The Battle of Cedar Mountain

At about 5:30 p.m., without the leadership of either Generals Jackson or Winder, subordinate officers formed Confederate men along the edge of woodlines where the ground offered a better field of fire. The men of the 21st Virginia were positioned just inside the woodline, facing across the field, but they did not face the enemy to their left. Federal infantry under Gen. C.C. Auger then attacked Confederates along the Crittenden Lane, and the 21st Virginia was perfectly aligned to fire down the Federal line as it advanced across their front. Together with Confederate fire along the Crittenden Lane and plunging artillery fire from the shelf of Cedar Mountain, Auger's men were caught in a cross-fire and fell back. In only a moment, the fortunes of the 21st Virginia were reversed when Federal troops under Gen. Samuel Crawford exploited a gap in the Confederate line. As they drove back troops to the left-front, their advance allowed them to fire into the backs of the men in the 21st Virginia, sweeping the regiment from the field and putting Jackson's battle line in peril.

Virginia · United States