The Confederate guns opened, and the hostile cavalry fell back; but from a distant undulation a Federal battery came into action, and the squadrons, supported by this fire, returned to their old position.  Although Cedar Run was distant seven miles from Culpeper, it was evident, from the attitude of the cavalry, that the enemy was inclined to make a stand, and that in all probability Banks’ army corps was in support.* (* This was the case.  Banks had reached Culpeper on the 8th.  On the same day his advanced brigade was sent forward to Cedar Run, and was followed by the rest of the army corps on the 9th.) Early’s brigade, forming the advanced guard which had halted in a wood by the roadside, was now ordered forward.  Deploying to the right of the highway, it drove in the enemy’s vedettes, and came out on the open ground which overlooks the stream.  Across the shallow valley, covered with the high stalks and broad leaves of Indian corn, rose a loftier ridge, twelve hundred yards distant, and from more than one point batteries opened on the Confederate scouts.  The regiments of the advanced guard were immediately withdrawn to the reverse slope of the ridge, and Jackson galloped forward to the mound of the guns.  His dispositions had been quickly made.  A large force of artillery was ordered to come into action on either flank of the advanced guard.  Ewell’s division was ordered to the right, taking post on the northern face of Slaughter Mountain; Winder was ordered to the left, and Hill, as soon as he came up, was to form the reserve, in rear of Winder.  These movements took time.  The Confederate column, 20,000 infantry and fifteen batteries, must have occupied more than seven miles of road; it would consequently take over two hours for the whole force to deploy for battle.

2.45 P.M.

Before three o’clock, however, the first line was formed.  On the right of the advanced guard, near a clump of cedars, were eight guns, and on Slaughter Mountain eight more.  Along the high-road to the left six guns of Winder’s division were soon afterwards deployed, reinforced by four of Hill’s.  These twenty-six pieces, nearly the whole of the long-range ordnance which the Confederates possessed, were turned on the opposing batteries, and for nearly two hours the artillery thundered across the valley.  The infantry, meanwhile, awaiting Hill’s arrival, had come into line.  Ewell’s brigades, Trimble’s, and the Louisianians (commanded by Colonel Forno) had halted in the woods on the extreme right, at the base of the mountain, threatening the enemy’s flank.  Winder had come up on the left, and had posted the Stonewall Brigade in rear of his guns; Campbell’s brigade, under Lieutenant-Colonel Garnett, was stationed in front, west, and Taliaferro’s brigade east, of the road.  The 10,000 men of the Light Division, however, were still some distance to the rear, and the position was hardly secure against a counterstroke.  The left of the line extended along a skirt of woodland,