Daily national Republican., 1863-06-11
BATTLE ON THE RAPPAHANNOCK,
"a, 900 of the Rebels in the
Field.
Heroic Bravery Of Our OflcsrS and
Men.


From wounded officers engaged in the great
hand to hand cavalry fight, on Tuesday last,
on the other side Of the Rappahaunock, we
CLEAN some additional details. The crossing
Of our force-consistlng Of about 1000 cavalry
and brigade Of infantry, (Russell'S) was
made in three columns. Buford was to attack
in front, whilst Gregg on one flank and Duher
on the other attacked the enemy. Buford
crossed at a. IN. near Rappahannock station.
Gregg crossed at 7, and DuAer at =, at Kelly's
Ford. Buford encountered a superior force of
the enemy soon after he crossed, and engaged
them hotly and with remarkable success. He
succeeded in driving his opponents only about
two miles; but the forces which were to CO.
operate with him not succeeding in the effort
on the enemy's flank and rear, he was obliged
TO maintain as best be could the ground he
had gained, fighting hard all day until the
order reached him for the withdrawal to this
side OF the river. Gen. Gregg meantime was
ordered TO attack Brandy Station, midway be-
tween Culpeper and the Rsppahannock. Gen.
Jeb. stuart's headquarters were situated on the
rising ground three quarters OF mile from this
station. Col. Percy wyndham's Second Brig
ade, consisting of the First Nav Jersey, First
| Maryland, and First Pennsylvania cavalry, the
! Twelfth Illinois being absent. He charged on
the station and captured 1t, with a number of
prisoners. He then charged upon the hill,
where Stuart's headquarters were, and captured
| IL, but 1t was afterwards retaken, tho enemy
speedily bringing up infantry and artillery re-
serves. No less than three successful charges
were made upon this hill. Our troops were
obliged to retire however before the constantly
increasing force Of the rebels.
In this retirement Col. wyndham's brigade
suffered severely. Col. Wyndhsm was wounded,
and Lieut. Col. Broderick and Major shellmire,
First New Jersey cavalry, were wounded and
taken prisoners. The loss in Wyndham's brig
ade is about two hundred in killed, wounded
and missing. Russell's infantry was not en-
gagged, save in light skrmishing. The rebel
force of cavalry alone was quite $1,000.
At elk O'Clock p. m, Tuesday, our force was
on this side.
Buford's cavalry brigade, composed Of the
regulars and the Sixth Pennsylvania, (Rush'S
Lancers,) did some splendid fighting and lost
heavily in officers. Out Of ninety officers in his
brigade, twenty-one were killed and wounded.
Buford formed his command Jy regiments,
and each regiment charged and opening to the
right and left allowed its successor 10 charge,
followed by still another and another. In this
manner he made ten distinct charges upon the
enemy who fought obstlnately, but were by
by these rapidly repeated blows driven back
two miles.
Numerous instances of individual daring
and intrepidity are related. Captain Merritt,
Of the Second cavalry, when his regiment was
ordered to charge, galloped to the front rapidly,
accompanied by Captain O'Keefe, Of General
BuffOrd'S staff, and encountering rebel Briga-
dier, who was at some distance from his COM
mand, he ordered him 10 surrender. The rebel
officer (who lS supposed TO have been Wade
Hampton) replied with a blow of hls SABRE
which Knocked of Captain Merritt'B hat
Meanwhile, Captain O'Keefe discovered that
Merritt's regiment wac long distance In the
rear and the two were obliged to fall back in
stantly TO prSvsnt their being cut of. Captain
O'Keefe was afterwards badly wounded and
taken prisoner. His horse was shot and fell
upon him, fastening him to the ground. Will,
in this position a rebel shot him, woundlng
: him severely.
r Seven officers of the Second cavalry wsr
killed and wounded.
From an officer of Gen. stoneman's staff W,
learn that by the papers captured at Jeb. Stuart
headquarters, 1t appeared that the rebel arm,
had been ordered to cross the Rappahannocl
that morning, at an hour somewhat later thar
that chosen by PleAsanton TO cross. Thus ou
crossing defeated their plan, at least.
The rebel force under Stuart comprised tn
, commands Of the two Lees, Wade Hampton
and Gen. Jones, who had moved down the Val
ley. 1t is stated that the entire rebel force con
sisted of $4,000 cavalry, two regiments O
= mounted infantry, and 26 pieces of artillery.
30 badly were the enemy cut up that the
did not pursue In force our retiring oolum
d when Gen. PleasSntou ordered his force to n
cross the RaPpahannock.