George McClellan largely ended the threat to Richmond with his withdrawal to the James River during the Seven Days Campaign.  Another Union army, however, was forming in Northern Virginia under John Pope, a hero of the Western Theatre.  Robert E Lee sent Stonewall Jackson north from the Richmond area to Gordonsville to "suppress" Pope, whose policies toward the civilian populace were a departure from McClellan's more traditional views.  Jackson patiently waited for an opportunity to strike. 

    The secretive Virginian was reinforced by A.P. Hill's Light Division, but Jackson remained outnumbered by Pope, who would eventually be reinforced by McClellan's army arriving from the Peninsula.  As you can see from the map, by early August, the time had come for the Confederates to strike.  The Union corps were spread out.  On August 8th Jackson attempted an advance on a portion of Pope's army under Nathanial Banks, but this miscarried because of a controversial miscommunication with Hill, which lead to the famed feud between the two.  The advance toward Culpeper, however, continued on August 9th.  In the mid afternoon the Confederates encountered Union forces near Cedar Run.  In the battle that followed, 12,000 Yankees under Nathaniel Banks pre-emptively attacked Jackson's 22,000 men.  Despite the advantage of numbers, Jackson would be hard pressed to hold his army together under a savage Union attack.

     Confederate infantry under Early were in position down Crittenden Lane on the right of the panorama above, extending to the Crittenden House.  Cedar Mountain, Ewell's position, can be seen in the distance on the right.  Taliaferro's brigade joined Early near the lane.  Garnett's brigade was deployed along the Culpeper Road - the one visible on the left of the pan with the prominent fence.  Further forward Garnett's line angled to the left, so that it was parallel to the Crittenden Lane once again.  (See map.)  Artillery was placed on high ground at "The Gate" between Crittenden Lane and the Culpeper Road.  Here the guns were in position to fire either to the front - or to the right to protect Early's line with enfilade fire.

     Jackson allowed himself to become distracted by a duel with the Union guns - becoming too involved with his artillery while neglecting his infantry.  The same was true of General Winder - killed by a Union artillery round and replaced by Taliaferro.  Meanwhile, the Confederate left was "in the air", meaning that it wasn't anchored on any natural obstacle.  Although the 10th Va and the Stonewall Brigade had been sent to reinforce the flank, they never connected with Garnett.  Preoccupied, Jackson didn't know this, and opposing line of Union infantry overlapped Garnett's line. 

     While Crawford was pushing back Jackson's left in some woods beyond the Gate, Union troops of Auger's division were advancing through a Cornfield and were attacking Early.  Geary's brigade attacked here near modern Route 15, with Prince's brigade attacking closer to the Crittenden house.  Confederate artillery at "the Cedars" near the Crittenden farm was withdrawn, as were the guns near the Gate, which were threatened from two sides.  In addition to pressure from the front, Taliaferro and Early were threatened on their left flank as Crawford's successful attack began to swing into them.  The whole Confederate line was under great pressure, and Jackson drew his sword for the only time during the war to try to rally his men.  Only the timely arrival of AP Hill saved the Confederates, much like events at Sharpsburg the next month.