The Battle of Cedar Mountain

Confederate General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson

In northern Virginia, Federals under John Pope advanced on Orange Court House and Gordonsville. Assessing that George McClellan was no longer a threat, Confederate General Robert E. Lee planned to demolish Pope before returning his attention to McClellan. Lee sent Stonewall Jackson to attack Pope south of Culpeper. However, Federals under Nathaniel Banks ambushed Jackson at Cedar Mountain.

The Federals pushed Jackson back until Confederates under A.P. Hill arrived to turn the tide and force Banks to withdraw. This battle indicated that Pope was moving south toward Richmond. This news, coupled with news that McClellan was abandoning the Peninsula, prompted Lee to move his entire Army of Northern Virginia north to confront Pope.