The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-03-20
BRANDY STATION.
A Stirring Account Of the Famous Cavalry En-.
gagement.
p. ROBERTSON,
l06th New York Vols

4 Stirring Account Of the Famous Cavalry En-
eagement.
To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
BY your permission 1 viii give your readers
an account of the battle of Brandy Station.
The7tho Of June, 1863. wasspentin the hurry and
hustle of preparation. laYersacks were stored,
csrtridge-b9xes filed. horses shod, the sick sent
back, and all the usual preparations for active
campaigning gone through with. Then COM
menced the irksome and wearying delays Incl
dent to the moving OF troops.
Momentarily expecting the order TO move.
hour after hour passed, and still we were not
yet OF. Evening came and night passed, and
reyeille awoke US TO another days expectancy !;
but we were relieved at noon. The bugle at
division headquarters sounded the general, y
tents We're struck, saddles packed. and the regi-
ment of each brigade massed in close column,
and, after an hour or twos more delay, waiting
for our trains to get on the road, the adj
vance" was sounded. Slowly pursuing our way
through tie heat and clouds of dust, raised by
the march Of division Of cavalry over parched
and arid fields, we al length reached the vicinity
OF the river RappahHGnock) !, aud at nine D. III.
bivou2cked FOR the Right about a mile from
keliey's Ford. The unusual precantion taken
TO prevent ali unnecessary noise betokened that
we were in the neigilborhood of the enemy and
might soon expect an encounter. IN pursuance
Of orders We were reused from cur slumber at 3
o'clock the next morning. and before we had
finished our hasty breakfast we heard the
thunder Of BufoTd's cannon, borne on the calm
morning air from Beverly Ford. He had al
ready commenced crossing his division. The
alarm brought US to the saddle, and soon we
were drawn UP on the river bank around
I keiley's Ford awaiting our turn to cross.
I Meeting but little opposition from the enemy,
/ IN half an hour we had passed the river and
were pressing forward into the interior Duties
Sd brigade having tie advance. After pro-
eeeding some miles from the river we turned
of in the direction OF Stevensburg, while our
command WyBdham's moved rapidly forward
! towards Brandy Station. with orders to find the
enemy and al once engage him. These were
( just the orders for cur gallant men and dashine
1 brigade commander. Moving forward at brisk
4 trOt,--the 1st New jersey cavalry in front, the
I list Pennsylvania cavalry next and Martins
battery and the Isl Maryland cavalry bringing
! up the rear,-in less than an hour we had
! reached the vicinity of the station and our adj
yance-gnard was engaged with the enelny's
4 administers.
THE CHARGE.
4 HnTying our columns from the wood through
which the road had led for the last two miles
( Colonel Wyndham formed his brigade in col
unlns OF regiment in the open field cast of the
station, and, heading the 1st New jersey IN
t person, at once ordered the line to charge Oul
sudden appearance on the flank and rear oil
! the enemy took him somewhat by surprise, and
4 for some minutes the hills and plains beyond
4 the railroad swarlned with galloping squadrons
I Of Johnny rebs hurrying 10 a new position, as
their lines OF battle was being changed to meet
our attack. The LIST Maryland, with companies
/ asd u OF the LIST Pennsylvania cavalry, were
1 ordered 70 move down on the station, while
+ Colonel Nyndham led the ist New jersey
] against battery on the heights beyond the
railroad, and the balance Of the 1st Pennsyl,
wanna cavalry directed its operations against
] the Barbour house-a large Virginia mansion
situated on high knoll Just beyond the rail.
road and about half mile north of the station
The field now presented a scene of grand and
thrilling interest. A whole brigade of cavalry
1 IN column of regiment was moving steadily for.
ward 10 the attack OH our side, while the enc
| mys cavalry, having completed its new for1na-
tloni stood III glittering lines awaiting the as
sault and his artillery, stationed On every hill
1 with rapid flash and continuous roar bechins
| forth It's concentrated FIRE on our advancing
columns. But still, with uBdaunted irmness, the
/ brigade IN sublime array moved forward-firsi
/ at walk, then qnickening their pace TO a trot
and then. as the awful SPACE between the bat
tie froBts rapidly shortened, the gallon wa,
taken, and, as our line closed on the enemy un-
III scarce fifty PAGES interyened, the order Il
charge rang along our front Ia an instant
light, and from thousand brave and confident
spirits arose a shout of defiance which. MS il
rung from squadron to squadron and wa,
caught up by rank after rank, formed one vast
strong, inll-voiumed battle-cry, and everx
trooper at the same time rising in his stirrun
and leaning forward TO meet the shock, dashed
atheadlong speed upon the foe First came tn.
dead, heavy crash Of the meeting columns. anf
next the clash OF saber, the rattle OF pistol anI
earbine, mingling with the frenzied imprecation
the wild shrek that follows the death blow
the demand 10 surrender and the appeal fo
1 mercy--iorming the horrid din of battle. Fo
few brief moments the enemy stood anf
brayely fought and band TO hand. fac,
to face, ragged the contest; but, ouailing n
length before the resistless force of our attacl
and shrinking from the savage CLEAN and muir
der0ns stroke Of our swift descending sabers
at length broke and fed in confusion. ",
followed him up, and soon the whole plain fo
a mile IN extent was covered with flying col
umns engaged in general melee, which con
finued until the enemy came up with re-en
forcements, when we withdrew and reformed
sToKsIING THE ESEAIY's POSITION.
When the LIST PENNSYLVANIA cavalry emerged
from the woods at the opening of the action. i
was formed facing and about half mile fron
! the railroad and Immediately OF. the left am