The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-07-16

OF Lees army. The unprecedented ser
vice exacted and performed by the "eyes
and ears OF thearmy," had reduced efec-
tives TO about one-third OF the splendid
body of Z. 900 troopers that made the Plains
of Brandy tremble but two short
months before. IL proved a most un-
fortunate plan for the government TO re
Quire or permit the Confederate troopers
To furnish their own mounts. Loss of
horses in various ways kept a large num-
Der of men dismodnted, or moving be-
tween their homes and the army going
for or returning with fresh mounts.
Thus the last of July found Stuart's
command by the severity of the Gettys-
burg campaign very greatly reduced.
On the contrary, the same arm of the
service in the Army of the Potomac had
been recruited, remounted, and re-equip-
ped and therefore physically and numeri-
Cally vastly Stuart 5 superior
Early on the 1st of August 1863 Pleas
anton again pushed his reorganized corps
of horse, with infantry supports across
the RappahannOck to measure swords
with stuart, and again the Plains of
Brandy drank in the blood of brave men.
The brunt of the battle fell upon Hamp-
toms depleted brigade, but all day long,
though greatly outmatched that splendid
company won new laurelS, and night found
the Plains of Brandy still in Confederate
possession This, the fourth battle of
Brandy, called forth a general order Of
Stuart's reading: 1.-THE gallant and spirit
ed resistance offered by Hampton's bri-
gade TO a body of the enemy's cavalry
vastly superior in numbers, deserves the
highest praise and commendation at the
hands of the division commander"
Dissatisfied with the results of Brandy
No. 4. and profiting by his experience of
repeated conflicts with Stuarts horse,
Gen. PleasantOn det rmined upon another
effort before Stuart could bring his diyis-
ion up to its old standard of numbers and
efficiency. This time the federal trooper
employed all his resources, and on the
18th of September he brought his troops
into action and fought them as if he
intended to master Brandy. The morn
ing of the 18th was ushered in lowering
and stormy, but this did not dampen the
ardor of Pleasanton, for all day he bat
tied as if intent upon victory He must
have brought his trains along with the
intention of staying, and he did stay. for
that night the Plains Of Brandy were
occupied by federal troops Superior
numbers and hard fighting gave Brandy
No. s. so often contended for, to Pleas
anton.
Meade's army soon followed and occu-
pied Culpepper. Lees lines were with
drawn to the banks of the Rapidan. Here
=
Ger had served under Mcclellan and i'm
bibed his characteristic caution; and not
until forced by popular ClamOr did he
move out of camp to develop Lees line.
Early in October he crossed the Rapi-
dan and advanced against Lees position
at Mine Run, but failed to attack. Wait
ing some days for Meade to take the
offensive and no serious attack being
made, Lee moved out of his trenches
upon the army of the Potomac. Meade
withdrew, then Lee tried to secure his
flank and rear, but the federals having
the shorter line upon which to operate,
succeeded in out-marching the army of
Northern Virginia.
This movement brought Stuart upon the
heels of Meade's army. His cavalry was
again Overtaken near Culpepper and from
the courthouse to the river running
fight took place and the Plains of Brandy
were for the sixth time baptized with the
blood of brave men.
Had Stuart and Fitz Lee kept each 9th
er posted of their respective movements,
Stuart attacking from the rear and Fitz
Lee upon the flank, it is more than posi-
Bile the federal horse would have been dis
astrously routed.
The 18th October, 1868. witnessed the
last serious, collision between the caval-
ry of those two armies on this historic
spot. Failing to OVertake Meade between
the Rapidan and Centreville, Gen. Lee
gradually fell back and took up his old
line of the Rapidan and his troops went
into winter quarters.
The Plains of Brandy did not again re-
sound to the clash of sabers or the shouts
of troopers. In a little more than a year
after the last fight there the star-crossed
banner Of the south sunk in its final bap-
tism of blood.
Three decades have made serious in
roads in the ranks of the survivors. OF
the hundreds who flashed their sabers on
the Plains of Brandy in that mighty
struggle, but a corporal's guard can now
be mustered These recOllections of
those stirring times may meet the eyes of
some old comrades, and set the stagnant
blood of age to cOursing rapidly through
their veins and arteries and rush as a
flood upon their memories, incidents of
the Long Ago" PERT