August 7 for Culpeper. As in his campaign in the Shenandoah in the spring, Jackson would manouver nimbly enough to gain local numerical superiority in the coming action. The cavalry under Brig. Gen. Beverly Robertson was sent ahead to dispatch the Federal cavalry guarding the fords of the Rapidan River and occupying Madison Court House, threatening the Confederates left flank as they marched northward. This task was easily accomplished by Robertson on August 8. Jackson's march on Culpeper Court House was hindered by the severe heat wave over Virginia at the beginning of August, as well as by his characteristic secrecy about his plan, which caused confusion among his divisional commanders as to the exact route of advance. As such, the head of his column had only progressed by the evening of August 8. The Federal Cavalry, though easily dispatched by Robertson, quickly returned to Pope and alerted him of the Confederate advance. In response, Pope ordered Sigel to Culpeper Court House to reinforce Banks, and Banks was ordered to maintain a defensive line on a ridge above Cedar Run, south of Culpeper Court House. Banks, still smarting from defeat by Jackson in the Valley, was anxious for revenge. Instead of fighting a defensive battle to buy time for the rest of the army's arrival, he planned to take the initiative and attack Jackson before he could fully form his lines despite being outnumbered 2 to 1. Opposing forces Union Confederate Battle Confederate position On the morning of August 9, Jackson's army crossed the Rapidan River into Culpeper County, led by Maj. Gen. Richard S. Ewell's division, followed by Brig. Gen. Charles S. Winder's division, with Maj. Gen. A.P. Hill's division in the rear. Just before noon, Brig. Gen. Jubal Early's brigade, the vanguard of Ewell's division, came upon Federal cavalry and artillery occupying the ridge above Cedar Run, just to the north-west of Cedar Mountain. As stated before, Virginia was in the middle of an August heat wave. By 14:00, it was and fighting did not commence until 15:30, the peak of the day's heat. Early in the contest, Jackson's army's movements were greatly hindered by this heat. The initial action consisted of a nearly two-hour artillery duel with neither side gaining a clear advantage. Some artillerymen suffered heat stroke as they frenetically fired their guns. The effective Federal artillery fire plunging around the Crittenden Gate had severely disrupted