The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-06-12
THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE: WASHINGTON D. c. rHfspAY JUNE H. 1884,

line. His most desperate charges in front and
in flank we're stoutly and successfully resisted.
Stuart at last determining to make another
desperate effort was arranging his lines accord
ingly, when his signal officer, who communi,
Gated by flags with Fleetwood Hill, informed
him that another large force was in his rear
and close upon Brandy Station.
GREGG AT BRANDY STATION.
OF course it was Gregg executing the orders
which he had received. 1t appears that Colo
mel Percy Wyndham. an English officer who
served with US during the war, commanded
this day the leading brigade of Greggs column.
He at first by his skirmishers, surprised the
station and took train of cars. But Confed-
crate Robertson's brigade being well III hand,
rescued the station before it was secured. I'M
mediateiy Wyndham, using section of artil-
lery and the LIST Maryland regiment, succeeded
in dislodging the Confederates again and IN
capturing the station, while Gregg's other
brigade Fitzpatrick shade rush for
Fleetwood Hill. The Hill was taken and for q
time firmly held against the most desperate
efforts of Robertson TO regain it. Three OF the
enemys guns were taken and many prisoners,
when Stuart who with true military instinct,
had at once, on getting the message, turned
back every thing, except his smallest brigades,-
which skillfully made a show of force from
Pleasonton's iront,-came upon Wyndham's
and Kilpatricks brigades now considerably ex-
hausted and in some disorder, with the sudden
ness of a thunderbolt. At first he dislodged
them from the hill, but they were quickly re-
formed, and again entered into the conflict
with boldness and success 1t would be difficult
to describe this even-handed fight, where
sabers and pistols were freely used; horseman
met horseman in personal combat, and several
pieces of artillery were taken and retaken.
Large numbers were killed and wounded the
loss being about equal on both sides Gregg
had hoped that Russellis infantry would get
up to his assistance. But it was yet behind.
He looked, too, for the return of Duffie, hoping
that that officer might have heard the artillery
and turned back to aid him. He was destined
to receive no assistance from that direction
Stuart managed at last to retake the hill, and
also to drive Wyndham from Brandy Station
Just then Pleasonton, pushing steadily before
him w. III. L. Lees command, came near, to re-
store once more the equilibrium. But before
his columns were Joined and the conflict re-
newed Gregg saw the approach of corps Of
infantry, which had been hurried along upon
a train of cars, and which Lee had sent the
instant that he heard of Stuart's surprise and
desperate fight.
PLEAsONToS WISELY RETIREs
We now know that it was EwelIs entire
corps. Seeing Rcdes' division, followed by
Early's, leaving the train, Gregg promptly fei
back to get the assistance which he needed
! from Buford and Russell. In very shor
time, probably about half past three in the
afternoon, the two wel-organized forces-Pleas
onton's and Stuart's--were facing each other
But Pleasonton avoided any further engage
ment. He had already accomplished the objee
/ of the reconnaissance, having developed tb'
fact that not only was STARTS command il
the neighborhood of Culpeper, but also al
1 entire corps, and probably more of infantry
and. further, he had in his possession the forma
plans of Lees campaign. Therefore, Pleason
ton now slowly withdrew across the Rappahan
mock, reaching the other side before dark AM
sending his important report to Genera
Hooker. He had lost, in killed, wounded ant
missing, about Goo men, and also two pieces 0
artillery. Stuart's loss was fully equal to ours
This conflict. mainly a cavalry engagement, a
the beginning of the campaign, hard as
seems to have been, was of decided advantage
/ to our cavalry, for, under good leadership, j
| had been able to take the offensive and hold it
own against equal if not superior numbers 0
| the we'll handed and enterprising Confeder
ates. Ever after, during the campaign, tn
brigades of cavalry rivalied each other in des
perate charges. and in often meeting and with
standing bodies Of infantry undertaking t
turn our TANKS.
| To be continued.