CHAPTER VI.
1862.
Cedar Mountain—Battle—Severe Loss of Life—Forward to Alexandria.
August 8th, the regiment moved at 2 o'clock, advanced
to Culpeper Court House, and went into camp; and
at 10:40, on the morning of August 9th, moved forward
in the direction of Cedar mountain. Halted a short
time, and the Twenty-eighth Pennsylvania regiment was
sent to the right on an eminence as signal guard. The
remainder of the brigade soon advanced, halting at
intervals, as the day was insufferably hot (several men
died this day of sunstroke). At last, passing through a
piece of timber, we approached the open field with a
rolling country in our front, and at 1:30, while making
preparations for dinner (near a fine spring of water),
skirmishing and artillery firing was heard on our right,
which continued at intervals until 3:45, when the rebels
appeared in heavy force, ready for battle, and the Union
lines were formed without delay. The Twenty-ninth
regiment (commanded by Captain W. F. Stevens, of
Company B,) was ordered to advance and take position
in rear of a battery which had been placed on a ridge.
Here the regiment took position, the right resting on
the road, and the left extending into the field, covered
from the enemy by the hill on which the battery
was placed. The Twenty-ninth, with other regiments of
the brigade, was about on the right of the left wing of
the line in open field, while the right wing extended
across the road, and into the timber. The regiment
