The Abingdon Virginian. [volume] (Abingdon [Va.]) 1849-1883, 1864-04-08
ABINGDON, FRIDAY. APRIL 8, 1864

would make the entire loss of the enemy 8O
men. This victory die, away with the pati-
ton of the Valley Legislators. On the list
Of April following, Gen. Jones started with
all his available force to North Western VAR
ginia. On this trip he accomplished grsat
deal with very little cost to himself. lie kll-
ed, wounded and captured 75O OF the enemy,
brought out 1900 horses. 1000 cattle, destrsy-
ed $50 small arms, piece OF artillery, p6
bridges, and one tunnel on the B. q y. and
N w. Va r. r. His command marched B2
days under the most irving circumstancesL =
He also destroyed the Oil Wells on the little
Kanawha, together with all the machinery.
and $50, 900 barrels of oil. Returning by WY
4 of Lewisburg, to the valley, he was lmr4c-
diately ordered to Culpeper G. H., to jim,
Gen. Stuart who at once commenced having
grand reviews Gen. Jones' Brigade wesI
camped one mile north Of Brandy Station ssid
to the lefsof the X. r. Beckhams battalion
of artillery was camped tive miles north of
| Brandy Station and one mile in front Of Gen.
Jones Brigade There was nothing bat one
company Of cavalry, between the artillery
and the enemy on picket. On the morning of
the 9th of June the enemy dashed across the
Rappahannock and attacked the pickets at
day light This company on picket made q
desperate resistance. Hearing the firing, Gen.
Jones started at once to the scene Of action.
| When he passed the artillery camp, the men
were asleep, the horses were grazing I'M large
field, and the pickets fighting desperately not
half mile in advance Of the camp. just at
this time the 9th Va. Cavalry came down the
road at a gallop to the support Of its pickets.
The Gen. at once ordered it to charge on tile
! IL IL. - 1onv Folk IN,
| order to save the artillery; soon the It'll VA,
! Cavalry came, and it was ordered to charge
on the left Of the road These two regiments
fought well and checked the enemy till tlse
horses could be caught, harRessed, hitched ~,
and the artillery moved into position Of use
fulness. The remainder Of the Brigade hav-
ing now taken position near the artillery, the
9th and TIN regiments were ordered to retire
on the right and left of the road. The enc
my now advanced to the edge of the woods
and deployed footmen rs skirlnishers. Think
ing that he would draw them out OF the
woods, the 18th .reg't was ordered to charge
the sharp shooters. This regiment went bold.
y head until within about 80 PAGES of the
woods, when they received terrible volley,
and were at the same time charged by cavaE
ry. The fight now became general and the
whole Brigade was engaged in less than five
minutes. Victory crowaed his efforts. and
The enemy were again driven back thro' tho
woods. By this time Gen. Hampton had ta-
ken position On Gen. Jones' right and Gen.
w. II. f. Lee on his left, Gen. Stuart was now
on the field. Soon courier came post-haste
saying the enemy held Brandy Station in the
rear. Three regiments from Jones Brigade
were immediately sent to meet them, but were
SO far out numbered that they sent for more
assistance. Hampton had been withdrawn
from jones' right and Jones was left to hold
his position with only one battery and two
regiments Of cavalry. Soon another order
from Gen. Stuart came calling everything to
his assistance at the Miller house. All was
now Withdrawn and hurried ON to Gen. Stuart.
The 18th coming in sight charged by Gen.
Jones' order, carried the hill, captured a bats
terry of three guns and drove the enemy from
every position. Thus making the day glori-
GUS Later in the day. the enemy made an eff
fort to turn Gen. jones' left, but were met
promptly by Gen. W. II. F. Lee, and driven
back. Being satisfied with his days work,
the enemy retired to the north bank of tho ri4
yer, and by dark Gen. Jones had re-establish1
ed his pickets where they had been driven
from, in the morning. Every one, well &C.
quainted with the ups and downs Of that day,
must say that Gen. Jones by his unprecsdent-
ed vigilance and courage saved Gen. Stuart
from a most shameful surprise and disastrous
defeat. Had it not been for the pronptness
and vigor with which Gen. Jones met the enc
my on this OCCASION all of Gen. Stuarts Bat
talon ZIG pieces) of artillery must have
been lost About the 18th of June, cavalry
fighting commenced at Middleburg. On the
2Ist, Gen. Jones being camped at Union,
Loudon Co., received orders from Gen. Stuart,
in case hi. heard the firing on the Middleburs
and Uppervile pike receding, that he must
fall back in the direction of Uppervilll and
! join him (Gen ST. at that point. The firing
was soon heard, rsceding rapidly. The eng
my were now making demonstrations in Gen.
Jones front. He determined to move in the
execution Of his orders, and started towards
Upperville. About one mile and half from
| Upperville, Gen. Jones formed junction with
Col. Chambliss (Gen. w. H. F. Lee's) bri-
gade, who was falling back towards the same
point, but ere they could reach Uupperville,
Gen. Stuart had been driven back through
there, and in attempting to join Stuart, was
attacked by vastly superior numbers of the
enemy. Here ensued one of the most despe.
rate cavalry fights Of the war, but being cut
numbered so far he was compelled to retire
which he did in good order, and joined Gen.
Stuart at Paris. In this fight Gen. Jones in
f1icted on the enemy a heavier loss than he
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