Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1863-06-16
From the Richmond Sentinel.]
THE CAVALRY FIGHT NEAR BRANDY
STATION.

! The cars, on yesterday evening, brought dow
/ 302 prisoners of war-cavalrymen and artillery
men captured by Stuart's cavalry in the fgh
near Brandy Station on Tuesday. Twelve of tn.
number were commissioned officers, intending
one Colonel. one Major, and sundry Captains al
Lieutenants Twenty prisoners, captured in the
| Valley, accompanied those above named.
| The bodies Of Colonel Hampton. Of Hampton.
Cavalry Brigade, and Colonel Williams, Of Soul
carolina, were reeelgsd by tise same tram ans
escorted by the Virginia State Guard to the
tCapitol. 1t is to be conveyed South Tor sepul-
ture The gallant Colonel was one of the slair
| in the battle.
From passengers and other sources of infor.
nation we present the following details
The cavalry OF the enemy numbered, il is SUP
/ posed, eight to ten thousand It was aeconnpa-
MED and supported by two or three Thousand
ldismounted men and artillery.
Tbs enemy's force crossed in one place, it is
said, at ford prepared by them for the occasion.
They thus eluded our pickets, got in the rear
and captured them, and pressed On rapidly to
our camps. This was was at an early hour in the
morning.
The ist South Carolina and 4th Virginia,
which were on picket, lost many men captured
in these early operations.
The enemy's column next fell on General
Jones' brigade, which they found in the act Of
forming, with guns and pistols not yet loaded.
Taking them at this disadvantage, they pierced
and broke our line, and forced our men to fall
back. They gained SO much ground as to cap
turs General Stuart's headquarters, near Bran
ty; also, Brandy Station, and, we understand,
some stores there.
Our men recovering from their surprise, now
rapidly came forward and threw themselves, sa-
bre IN hand, upon the enemy. These were driv-
en- in their turn, nearer to the river, with loss
of number OF prisoners, besides the killed and
wounded.
The fight huctuated throughout the day, last
ing from five to fve-twelve long hours.
1t was, doubtless, the seyerest and most ex-
tensive cavalry fight Of the The scene lay
chiefly on the farm owned by the late John S.
Barbour, sr. The enemy made much use of
their sharpshnoters, who, from the shelter of
the adjacent timber, did US considerable damage.
But the hand to-hand encounters of cavalry
and the crossing of Sabres were the principle
features of the fight. Many of our wounded bear
the evidence of this ON their persons while.
the slain and wounded of the enemy prove it still
more conspicuously. Our men being caught
with unloaded firearms, left them, indeed, no
other resource at first.
During the conflict the enemy charged and cap
TIRED our horse artillery. But it was quickly
lre-captured by the desperate determination of
our troops. We learn that we amply retaliated
afterwards by capturing and holding battery of
four or five guns belonging to the enemy.
vor., The enemy repulsed and driven at all
points fell back to tie Rappahannock and re-
crossed it.
We captured from them in the fight and on the
retreat 302 prisoners, already received in this
city. Besides these, between fifty and sixty
more were brought to Culpeper Court House
yesterday morning and they were sill coming,
Our own loss is vagiouslY stated The infor-
nation at the Pfovost's office at Culpeper Court
House, yesterday morning, was that about tws,
hundred of our men We're prisoner. Opr killed
and wounded are supposed h. reach several hun
are@-some put ih-- figures higher and some
lower.
/ Ine loss OF the enemy III Killed and wounded
is believed to be consfde faby greater than ours
This is usually the case with the army fhaf Is
| defeated
Among our slain are Lieutenant-C Colonel Hanp-
tom of General Halnpton's brigade, and Coo
mel Samuel Williams, of the I'd North Carolina
regiment. Colonel Butier, Of South Carolina
had his foot shot eff and has suffered anpg.atiou
General W. Il. z. Lee received :. PAINFUL but
| not dangerous flesh Tcnrd in the thigh He
came down yesterday TO Colonel ~ ickA&n's, III
Hanover. Colonel A, W Hartman, of the 18th
Virginia Cavalry, wa. wounded, but not serious
", IN the neck
The forces engaged on our size were the brig
aces OF Generals Hampton, " 81. F. Lee, and
Jones
We understand that the Yankees burnt Kel-
ley mill.
The fight on the whole may be said to have
oegan in surprise, and ended IL victory
me latter is what we are accustomed to hear of
Confederate soldiers the former, we trust,
never to hear again.