Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-08-12
THE TWELFTH VIRGINIA REGIMENT IN THE
fight NEAR BRANDY STATION. ~ q b

THE TWELFTH VIRGINIA REGIMENT IN THE
FIGHT NEAR BRANDY STATION. ~ q o.
A correspondent Of Toe Petersburg Express gives the
following narrative Of the part borne By the 18th Vr.
GINA Regiment in tie recent 6ght near Brandy Station
We had been camped just week On a bill half a
mile north Of Culpeper U. H., and were beginning 10
think that General Lee was disposed TO et Meade get
to Fredericksburg ahead Of him without fight or a
foo-race when about midday Of Saturday las the lat
inst the sound OF cannonn the direction OF Brandy Sta
ton where the Orange and Alexandria Railroad crosses
tie north branch of the Rappshannock broke upon the
stiffness Of the sultry day. sad greatly accelerated
div pranda al preparations in every quarter of the
camp Hours passed by, the "bul and putty" were
disposed OF, smokers were extending themselves In
every shade and divers eIecraons OF the aIdness Of
the mSs we're breaking the monotony Of conversation
when General Anderson courier rushed antcaly into
camp and in few moments the 18th was under arms
vito the rest OF the brigade, and In motion for the d.
recton of The firing. II was now about hafpast four
and bot enough TO satisfy the penchant OF first class
salamander but the continued increase in the
and frequency Of the shot, (the smoke from which
could distinctly sec suggested the necessity of speed
and we stepped out with will the Twelfth in 'front.'
We had not gone half mile before orderly from
Gen. Stuart ganoped up 70 Gen. Anderson, informing
him that the enemy were at hard and pressing the
cavalry So that the infantry must be hurried up Dou
| bic qu'ok was now ordered and of trotsed. In q
quarter OF an hour arrived at the edge Of wood
| and were deployed In line of battle.
The e1igency was so great that although 1t was not
the turn OF Regiment to do the skrmishng, we had
10 be thrown in being in advance and scattered
selves along the edge Of Thick tangled wood through
which We advanced rapidly the obaructioDs per-
IN tied. We soon emerged at the other side on the
edge Of pain about 500 yards across the farther
extremity OF which the Yankee cavalry, long Line Of
disnopnted troops acting as infantry and two pieces OF
artillery stood ready to give welcome. Gen. Stuart
rode up End taking command Of The line OF sticnisbers,
comprising the 18th Mississippi and the 18th Virginia,
gave the order TO charge the enemy. With genuine
Confederate yslla most distinct thing be it known to
you from 4 Yankee cheer--the boys started of, two
pieces Of StusrPS Light artillery following US.
Then began the most beautiful chase ever witnessed
Whenever the crest Of hill gave the Yankees Adyan-
age of position the gentry would halt fom their line,
and pour in fire Of ilery and infantry until got
too close upon them, when they would Timber up
scamper ncoaiineniy down the farther slope to
the performance whenever ard wherever the
fgurstOn Of the country gave them the position.
Luckily for US kept too clofe upon them TO allow
them much tine for deliberate aiming, ard their shot
both from cannon and small arms dew very wide in the
main. Thus up hill and down dale for four miles, with
one step backward or one moments halt except to
take breath or 70 take advantage Of tie ground
the magn cent plain which JED he'd his grea cav
airy review last year. through corn fields and boys and
sthWsrt branches and fences, the chase kept up till
Ia the deepening twilight drove them from their last
1
atou Of John Minor Bo!t and sending the reprCbates
Tying at a speed hch defed the efforts Of infantry
Altogether Il was a mos. successful affair aud Gen.
Stuart who remained with us al the time was pleased
express bis appreciation of the 18th in very decided
terms Calling passing officer he asked Nnat brigade
We belonged TO- ard OF being infornl that il IVES Ma.
bones, desired the officer to express to General hs
GEQu i6ed admiration OF the conduct Of bis men, ana
TO tell him that he had been supported better in
| HE life"
l.. Ms
tbas OF poor B.auch who having passed through every
engagement oil the var in which the regiment has been
WITHOUT scratch kiu the beginning Of the skirmish
pierced through the right breast. snook his hand
moved by, expressing my hope thas he would re-
cover but be replied, "No - goner, fear"
In half ur be corpse. He was gallant En1
,Gicent Hicer.
Anotherlettsr from the writer dated Orange
G. B., 5h inst, gives the following summary of the
events Of the day:
The lighting had been raging pretty heavy from IL in
the forenoon until about in the afternoon between
portion Of Stuarts cavalry and large force Of the
enemy, a. which lime stuart having bee0 TOO heavily
pressed by numbers had fallen back 10 within three
quarters OF mile of the Courthouse and Andereon's
Division OF infantry double qucke bis support
Mshones s;d PvEeys brigsdes being depOyed in line of
battle just above town, commenced driving the enemy
bacE the l2th Ynglna aud one Of PoSey5 regiments
being sent forward skrmishers steadily and swiftly,
IN cOlsOTt ID or cavalry, drove the enemy beyond
Brandy Station, distance Of Eve sx miles, aud
never during the time, did infantry alter for in
slant TO Tire contrary, Gen. Stuart sent word back to
the tDmma' Dig officer that they had proved the best
infantry support that he had had. After nighuall
cur infantry fell back and encamped Courthouse.
Il was during this pursuit OF the enemy that the gal
LAM Capt Branch, OF the Richmond Greys fell mortal
" wounded be living only some halt hour afterwards.
Lis untmey death caused universal sadness throughout
the regiment for as officer aud soldier all acknoN-
LEGGED his high qualifications he having been with the
regiment ard lobby doing his duty in every engage
| ment in which il has participated, while man he
was universally esteemed and beloved by all The
g;ment has lost in him OF It's most valued members,
while his company has sustained loss that cannot east
~ be replaced. Only six OF the regiment wound
| ed but you already have their names.
Two of our regiment VIM. cbols OF Co. A, and
JOS BrOwnley OF 70. G. while N the advance as vOun.
eer scouts came upon five OF he enemys cavalry and
by bod succeeded in capturing four Of the party
q Sergeant aud three priVates, a Lieutenant making
good els escape By fight When the tHo got within
some fifteen steps OF the patty, two Of them evelled
their carbioCs scouts, who Immediately levelled
their pieces in return and st The time halloong 10
an imaginary party behind them to "come on, BOYS !"
the enemy suppoSing that large party about 10
dash down upon them, Immediately surrendered, and
the four with their horses and accoutremeuts i'm
media'ely m'rehed back to the by the two exu-
| tant scouts
From tie augusta CoHstituiionalists.
SPECTATORS AND EXToRTIoNERS
The spirit of SPECULATION aud extor.ion was never