The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-12-10


qbc war had advanced mat faf when
,be month OF June iSoS approached, cur
a. Which the battle was Fought which
s. lola these chapters
III hardly bc surprising that the
-sofel,iate army in Virginia, which
a.. fhe hlghcst numbered 5000 men, not
,.i.bstaniirg its comparative weakness
t...ld CO. their tr.,d ohieftein f04 w con-
r5sr and placing sl.imited confidence
20. moral superiority WAS prepared 10
."..r fnc future although the enemy con-
...t.. il had more tnan double us
.rre leaders also had become more cou-
rageous. ..,.,. ceoer.t Y. a..
q, 80 President Jefferson DAVIS decldeu ~
+-yc io hand the offensive, wnicn up 10
80 time had been handled tactcaily III
a.. moss admirable manner also s"dtc-
-,t, fo secure az The same tine the
e.,.snancc OF the army. rendered
S,s.tt bv bad crops. to free the
D...i....rv afflicted country OF the oppres-
~, III the hostile gdrrisons, and, In the
-. ~ securing the peace under accept
.tie conditions. after menactng some OF
80 tarler cities in New England, ana
,.ossbIy after obtaining some decisive
me plan OF General r.. r. Lee was 20
march up the Rappahannock. 20 cross the
Hlue Ridge mountains. 10 come down the
valley of Virginia 30 free the same oil
the enemy. TO ford the Potomac near
Williamsburg. and subsequently. by way
of Haeerstown and Chambersburg, 10 pen
citrate through Maryland into Pennsyl-
vaula while advanced corps were TO threat
en- Baltimore and Philadelphia.
follow him up. and that the decisive bat
DE would be fought near the mead OF the
MonOcacy.
And in fact this campaign ended in the
bloody but undecided battle OF Gettysburg'
which lasted three days. and after when,
owing TO his big losses. General Lee did
not feel strong enough 10 continue the Of
fensive Of the campaign
In order 20 secure veil against the
hostile Union army marching IN par
agol direction. end being compelled TO
remain east OF the Blue Ridge mountains
gtuarts cavalry was 90 cover the right
wing Of the army. remaining also east OF
the above named mountains close 10 the
enemy
AS VIII be seen from the map, stuart
subsequently, carried out this manoeuvre
until Gettysburg.
These whole strategical movements be-
gan on June 10Th
For that purpose Stuarts cavalry had
been concentrated around Cuipeper, where
the reviews OF June 5th and June eth
showed the leaders that the troops were
in a splendid condition.
on the evening OF June 8th. General
stuart advanced 10 the Rappahannock,
and the tents OF his headquarters were
removed to a point near Brandy station.
Ills forces on that evening were distribute
ed IN the following manner:
]. ON the right wing were stationed,
FOR the guarding OF the lower and South
ern part of the Happahannock, the Ro-
bertson Brigade. near Browns House, to
watch the most accessible passage near
Kelly's Ford. and the roads leading from
Brandy Station and Stcvensburg to the
Rsppahannock bridge.
g. In the centre. at the Beverly Ford
COT almost equal Importance stood Jones
Brigade.
3. Behind the same. serving as reserve,
the division OF Wade Hampton was sta
TONED.
on the left wing. covering the upper
and northern part Of the river, which
at that point had various fords, stood
the division Of w. II. Lee.
5. Aside from the latter the division Of
Fltz Lee was concentrated, commanded
az that time by Colonel Aunford. General
Fitz Lee having been disabled for the
service by an injured leg. The position Of
this division was near Wexford Ford, on
the Hazel river. which empties about two
Mlometers below into the Rappahannock.
From this distribution of The troops
81 will be seen that the cavalry was plac-
ed IN the most effective positions; il was
spread sufficiently TO watch the extended
'front.'. and az the same time to remain in
sufficient touch TO enable its rapid con-
centration.
For an immediate attack, however these
cavalry forces were not sufficiently mass
ed together. but, judging from the expe-
uences with the opponents up TO that time
and assuming that the advance guard
stationed on the river would be used pro-
perly and promptly an immediate colli-
sion was not TO be expected.
Second Chapter-Characteristi Of tho
Lenders
II might not be without interest TO the
readers OF the subsequent chapters. 10
learn some details as 10 the lives OF
some or the prominent participants in
the Battle Of Brandy Station.
There are various reasons why on this
occasion the leaders of the Confederate
army carry of the lions share. In the
with them and with some OF them on
rather Intimate terms: besides the his
tory Of the United States repeatedly men
tons the names Of j. T.. Il. Stuart Fitz
and William Lee. and Wade Hampton.
Fitz. Lee and Hampton subsequently
becoming governors OF their respective
States and W. Lee playing a political
part, while the names OF Pleasanton
and his subordinate leaders have dis
appeared In the big current OF events
without leaving any visible traces be-
hind them.
General J. Z. y. Stuart. however Is
known wherever cavalry man lives. who
wishes 70 Keep pace with the times
General James Edward Brown Stuart
was born In 1893. IN Patrick county. Va
where his parents were the owners Of
a plantation In his youth he was n
Wild and rather homely looking boy. who
upon entering the famous Military Acad-
envy at West Point on account Of his
unprepOssessing appearance was called
Beauty" by his fellow cadets, a nick
name by which he was afterwards known
Tor many years.
After he had graduated with distinc-
Non he was detailed as second lieutenant
the First Regiment Cavalry OF the
United States army. then stationed at
ne frontier
There he spent a number Of years dur
ing which his extraordinary capobility
as cavalry officer developed rapidly in
ne many expeditions against the In
aians and the continuous combsts with
ne same, and attracted the attention
u his superior officers.
In 1901 during fight with the Chey-
tnne Indians at Sai0mons Fork on the
Nansas river he was seriously wounded
ana obtained a leave OF absence TO 20