The Hero of the Federal Attack. General Samuel W. Crawford, here seen with
his staff, at Cedar Mountain led a charge on the left flank of the
Confederate forces that came near being disastrous for Jackson. At about
six o'clock the brigade was in line. General Williams reported: "At this
time this brigade occupied the interior line of a strip of woods. A field,
varying from 250 to 500 yards in width, lay between it and the next strip
of woods. In moving across this field the three right regiments and the
six companies of the Third Wisconsin were received by a terrific fire of
musketry. The Third Wisconsin especially fell under a partial flank fire
under which Lieut.-Colonel Crane fell and the regiment was obliged to give
way. Of the three remaining regiments which continued the charge
(Twenty-eighth New York, Forty-sixth Pennsylvania, and Fifth Connecticut)
every field-officer and every adjutant was killed or disabled. In the
Twenty-eighth New York every company officer was killed or wounded; in the
Forty-sixth Pennsylvania all but five; in the Fifth Connecticut all but
eight." It was one of the most heroic combats of the war.
[Illustration: COL. ALFRED N. DUFFIÉ]
A Leader of Cavalry. Colonel Alfred N. Duffié was in command of the First
Rhode Island Cavalry, in the Cavalry Brigade of the Second Division of
McDowell's (Third) Corps in Pope's Army of Virginia. The cavalry had been
used pretty well during Pope's advance. On the 8th of August, the day
before the battle of Cedar Mountain, the cavalry had proceeded south to
the house of Dr. Slaughter. That night Duffié was on picket in advance of
General Crawford's troops, which had come up during the day and pitched
camp. The whole division came to his support on the next day. When the
infantry fell back to the protection of the batteries, the cavalry was
ordered to charge the advancing Confederates. "Officers and men behaved
admirably, and I cannot speak too highly of the good conduct of all of the
brigade," reported General Bayard. After the battle the cavalry covered
the retreat of the artillery and ambulances. On August 18th, when the
retreat behind the Rappahannoc was ordered, the cavalry again checked the
Confederate advance. During the entire campaign the regiment of Colonel
Duffié did yeoman's service.
[Illustration: THE FIRST CLASH