Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1863-09-18
A FIGHT IN, ,CULPEPER.
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE OF THE ENQUIRER
Army or NoRTuEKy VIRGINIA,
Sept. II, 1868.

| AS Prenieteu some ten DAYS ago, tho long
| quiet has been broken and tho clash Of arms
again resound along the banks Of the Kappa
hanrcck The enemy hold Culpeper in force,
and our forces are making ready to meet them.
The following is as nearly an. accurate state
mcnt of what transpired in Cu1pcper as can be
furnished just now About three o'clock on
Sunday morning information was conveyed to
the cavalry that the enemy we're preparing to
cross at Stark's Ford, some eight miles above
our forces and at Kelly's, some five milos be-
low them: and that they would no doubt be
co-opcratcd with by the corps. of the enemy,
which for some time psssti IDS Been. eneamped
on this side ofthe Rafspa aRanaock river, at the
railroad bridge.
The wagons were ut once. packed and sent
to the rear, and the horses were ordered
to be saddled, and the men were bdden 70
prenara for any emergency.
At daybreak, Brigadicr General Lamax, in
command of Jones old brigade, now his
own, and w. ii. +. Lees, under COL Bealc, OF
the 9th Virginia Cavalry, moved at once to
the front and found all quiet Some hours
later, couricrs brought information that the
enemy were crossing at Stark's Ford, with
600 cavalry and artillery. and were advancing
on Culpcpcr G. H., by the Ridgevillc road
and were driving in the piskets there station
ed. The eth and 18th regiments Virginia
cavalry were Immediately sent forward to
strengthen the picket on this road Major
Flournoy at this time held the front with the
9Th regiment and Il squadron of sharpshooterS
iom the oh Virginia cavalry. About 10
o'clock. Major Flournoy fell back to Brandy
Station, and shortly thereafter Capt. Moor
mans artillery opened fire on the enemy from
this point. Just then, Gen. Lomax received
information that the enemy had crossed at
kei!y's Il large force of cavalry, artillery and
infrntry, and were advancing on the Stevens.
burg and Brandy roads. A very short time
after this, sharp carbinc fire announced their
arrival at Brandy. Mai. f. fell back rapidly,
contest;ng every hill, and only giving way
when in danger of being outnanked.
The 18th Virginia cavalry, supported bv
Squai?ons of the 9TH, was now thrown for
war,l n the left of the railroad in Bolts for
r"rl Y }. 4. Bcckham'S) woods. The 18th
Virginia cavalry was thrown forward to the
right Of the railroad in same woods. Six re-
giments of the enemy were now dep!oycd in
II field near Brandy, with two batteries of ar.
tilery. The infantry of the enemy were
massel behind the cavalry and the timber. OF
curse our men were compelled again to gi:e
lack.
Another stand was made by our forces on
the ground where the infantry first became
engaged during Ilampton's fight on the 1T of
August and here severe fight took place in
which artillery, musketry and carbincs were
frecl V used. At this time it was discovered
that COLUMN Of Mt least two brigadcs Of cav
airy wore moving on our right flank by way
of Strvenshurg towards Culpeper Court House
Whilst the artillery on the left showed that
the enemy, who were moving on the R:xcY-
villc road, we're nearly at the Court House,
| our forces, Of course were compelled again 70
give back, and this time the Court House fell
into the hands OF 'ha enemy. In The fight
made at this point Col. Bealc, 9:h Virginia,
was wounded slightly in tire leg
At this time train of cars was at the
Court House bringing of the plumber of our
people. This was fired upon some three or
four times. and though the shells cxp'oled
Just above the cars, scattering the fragments
over them, yet. no damage was done. One
shell passed into the house of Mr.. Thomas
Hill and exploded but did no damage.
! am toll that nearly everything was re-
moved from the depot at Culpeper Court
House, though I hear that we lost some four
or five boxes of saddles, eight boxes Of am
muniti9n, and forty sacks of corn.
The excitement and confusion at Culpcper
Court House is said to have been very great
and yc~y striking. Women were shrcking. sol
Iicrs were groanihg with their wounds, and
children were crying from fright, and the
dcath-shots kissing from afar were bowling
and screcching over the town. At last ac-
counts the enemy had not advanced more than
two miles out from Culpeper Court House.
The roar Of artillery continued, however, I'M
til four O'Clock, when it ceased.
Our loss is not known. | hove seen some
six or seven wounded. The 18th Virginia is
believed to have suffered considerably and [
am tod fought we'll. Our sharpshoOtcrs did
the enemy considerable damage during one of
the charges which they (the enemy attempt
cl to make. The fighting was kept up until
nightfall. and picket firing has been resumed
gam this mcrning.
can get nothing definite as t. our losses
save that we lost three pieces of Stuart j
IIcrse Artillery yesterday evening.
Two corps of the enemy are at Culpcper
Court House, and heavy force Of the ;nfun-
try is this side The Yankee cavalry is this
sile of Michell's Station.
This movement is believed to be general
advance of the enemy, and our men are in no.
silionso meet them.
We have lost some sevcnty-f7e or hun
drcd prisoners, it is said
Our men are in the very best of Spirits
We have captured % prisoners now on their
way to Richmond.
The Yankee prisoners say that this is n
mere reconnaissance in forccSto ascertain if
the rumors which they have heard that q
large force of Lees had gone South.
The officer captured with the prisoners rep
rcscnts himself to be q lieutenant, though our
men say he pulled off a ma jor,s stri pcs when
arrested.
The officer in command of this roconnois
sance is Gen. Buford.
Capt Pratt. of company X, 9th Virginia
was wounded in the hand; Lieut. Love, Of
company G., 9th Virginia, was wounded in
shoulder: RichaYd Corbus, of company B, 9th
Va, was killed: II. R. Davis, company X,
killed ; and L. Barker, same company, wound
cd: p Pillow; company G. killed; and Da.
I'D Concc, sames company, Wounded: -
Pecd, company |, wounded, supposed mortal
ly. y.
LATER.
coEREsroNDENcE OF THE ENQUIRER.
ARMY NORTHERN VIRGINIA.,
Sept. -, 1868.
After the enemy obtained possession o.
Culpcrer Court House, on Sunday, our forces
made stand about one and half miles this
side. Whilst engaged at this point the 9th
Virginia Cavalry made q bold and dashing
charge, going right up to the Court House.
; In this charge they captured some 81 prison,
ers.
The aim Of the enemy was surprise. and,
by enclosing us, to capture our forces. In
, this they were most signaly disappointed.
The artillery (three pieces) which we lost
VAS captured as we were retiring through the
Court House
The 18th Virginia made. three gallant
charges in the fight which occurred after leav-
ing thc Court House, and which was decidedly