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https://micivilwar.com/authors/benton-thomas-h/
Regiment: 19th Indiana Infantry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures: Ambrose E. Burnside, John Pope, Rufus King, Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson
Cedar Mountain, Va. Aug. 14th, 1862
Dear Father:
We are now some forty miles from Fredericksburg, at
Cedar Mountain, the late field of battle. We arrived here
on last Monday night after two days hard marching. On
the evening of the first day we crossed the Rappahannock
River at Ellis’s Ford, wading up to our middle. That was
Sunday. On Monday at 3 A.M. we again commenced marching,
and marched upwards of thirty miles to this place. When we
arrived here there was considerable excitement amongst the
troops here. Jackson’s army was only two miles
off, and everyone expected a great battle Tuesday. But we
did not care anything for that. All we wanted was to stop
and rest. I got up in the morning with the expectation of
going immediately to the field of battle, but the first
thing I heard was that Jackson had retreated. Our artillery
and cavalry immediately started in pursuit, but did not
overtake the rear guard of the enemy until they
arrived at Orange Court House, ten miles from here. It is
generally supposed that Jackson’s army has crossed the
Rapidan by this time. As soon as Pope was reinforced by
King’s division, Jackson skedaddled, as usual. The papers
have a great deal to say of the battles of last Sunday, and
Saturday, but one half is not true. They say that our
forces gained a decided victory, but I can’t see it. We
lost as many or more men than they did. It is true that
they retreated, but not until Pope received a reinforcement
of 25,000 men. And from prisoners taken here, we learn that
Jackson had only 30,000 troops, but after the battle
received a reinforcement of 18,000. The papers state our
loss at 1,500. It may be that many
killed, wounded, and missing; but I do not believe it.
Yesterday I visited the field of the late battle, and it
shows the evidence of some severe fighting. Trees a foot
through are cut entirely off. Dead horses are strewn over
the field, and from the number of dead pits, I
should judge that about four hundred had been killed on
each side. Our dead were all buried very well, but the
enemy only half buried theirs. Some I saw with
their hands and feet sticking out. I think the enemy had a
decided advantage of position during the engagement. The 7th
and 27th Indiana Regts. are here. There are about 100,000
troops now here. The cavalry that were in pursuit of
Jackson are now coming in. We are about five miles from
Culpepper Court House. The morning we left Fredericksburg,
Burnside with his forces left there, and I
understand he is now in Jackson’s rear. All the Richmond
boys are well. Give my love to all, Yours
affectionately,
T. H. Benton
P.S. Two of our company were taken prisoner last week.
Corp. T. J. Crull from Hagerstown, and Private J. Hunt from
Cambridge.
