The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-05-18
BRANDY STATION.
The Part Taken fin that Battle by Buford's
Cavalry Division.

|
tons of their side Of the game. but neither
seemed aware of the presence of Buford's
| Cavalry Division on the field Yes, comrades,
| we were there in squadron square, but on the
other side of the field, and saw you'ns come
| through the rebel lines like dose of salts.
The morning of that ever to aforementioned
| day found US south of the Rapidsn. What we
were sent over there for the day before still re-
mains one of the mysteries of the service On
| our way down to Germania Ford on the 10th
we met Cline, of the 9Th H., returning from
one of his accustomed rides across the border.
| Probably it was the news he carried to Head
| quarters that caused an attempt at our recall.
| We learned afterward that two Staff Officers
| and their Orderlies made hard ride to inter-
| cept us, but as they rode down to the ford late
| in the afternoon, we were over the nils ana
| far away on the other side, and they concluded
best not to follow We rode till after dark,
feeling our way up the south side of the river,
capturing pickets and stragglers, and finally
bivouacked nearly opposite where we started
| from in the morning. During that still night
| We could plainly hear the Army of the Potomac
| on the move We're they following our lead in
an Onto Richmond? But the cluck, cluck of
the artillery carriages grew fainter and fainter
| until dying away TO the northward.
| Daylight of the morning of the 18th revealed
to us that the army had literally folded its
tents and disappeared. What a beautiful Au-
! tumnal Sunday morning it was! How many
| Sundays we're battle-days That was surely
! one with us.
By sunrise we were in the saddle. and were
soon riding in front of long, fortified camp.
| AS we passed 1t seemed within easy riie-range
The rays of the early morning sun reflected
| back from our column of blue and steel, and
with colors and guidons thrown to the breeze,
we seemed an interesting spectacle to the
crowds of gray coated men who swarmed upon
the works and stared at us in gaping wonder.
1 II
electives" Lee and Meade were then off on
their memorable foot race for Centerville
Nights" But We did not ride far before find
ing plenty of men duty and ready for &C.
ton.
Our first engagement of the day was south of
tho Rapidan. They tried to hold us there
until a heavy force of cavalry could cross at
Raccoon Ford and gain our rear. but the 18th
Ill. and Willston's battery entertained them
while the rest walowed through the narrow
and muddy ford at Morton's. The 9Th III.
repused heavy charge as we hurried on to
position near Stevensburg, where we had
hard engagement. Here their infantry first
showed up. as a long line of bayonets sprang
from the covert of pines and made dash for
our battery. We "got furder" but were soon
in position again. We would drive their cav
airy back on every field, and their infantry in
turn would make us hunt another. That was the
time when the old Virginia gentleman, writing
for The NATIONAL TRIBUNE couple Of years
since, said there was a perfect storm of cavalry
Sighting all around him distinctly remem-
Der the neighbor's house he spoke of where the
she'll from one of our guns killed man in the
cellar. But that happened a few weeks before,
when we were advancing the other way.
How our memories grow old,-fal to retain
occurrences of recent events,-but hold fast to
things happening away back nearly a third of
a century ago. l can still see Sergt George
Gardner our first battlefield of that day,
lying OH stretcher, pale as marble, and hear
him say, Z" know it is you, Calkins, but | cam
not see you'll" His large gray eyes seemed
gazing straight into mine, and so close, too Ny
own vision grew DINNER as bade him good-by,
and we never met again.
When the Adjutant OF the 8th n. Y. fell
from his saddle, the riderless horse galloped up
and down in front of the enemy's lines but not
seeming TO like their looks, he forded the river
and galoped up along tho column until his
accustomed place was found, and he seemed
contented with his comrades.
One of the 9Th Ill. boys returned from a
charge bringing prisoner. As the long-legged
Yirgnian walked at lively gait by his SIDE
they were laughing some incident of the
fold. while the captor was kept busy wipiug
the blood that flowed fast from a cash across
the forehead, TO keep it from filing his eyes
and binding him. Himself, his horse and
equipments. and the arms Of his prisoner, being
on the saddle, were spattered with the red
dye.
a shell from rebel gun killed the horse
under Capt ReaDs 18th ILL.,, and four or five
horses in the ranks Of his company One
trooper, thus summarily dismounted, danced
franticaily about in the dust and smoke, feel
ing vigorously over his person and his head.
and impiOriugly inquired, my God boys,
where am | hit?" Not rider of all those
horses that went down was wounded
Again, when we supposed ourselves out of
range of danger but were advancing to sup
port charge, all intent upon the work in our
front, / heard the CALL Chase is down."
CHANGING ut my eft-hand man, and u very
particular friend, he was seen lying forward on
his horses neck, while through Cubs" name
and down his black and glossy neck red
rivulet was running. AS we returned from
the charge, the pioneer corps were bnryng
Chase. As we passed them, she'll striking
the earth and exploding threw cloud of dust
over thep-a fit requiem
As the Johnny cavalrymen were backed by
infantry, we had hopes of overtaking ours, and
that they would stop and help us whip them
all out. Once or twice our rear guard OF in
fantry overtaken. They would stay long
enough to see or two cavalry charges
declare it the grandest sight ever witnessed
that Cardi gan's Light Brigade never did better,
then sling knapsacks and double quick it out
of sight The rebel infantry seemed to aug
ment on every succeeding field. Where could
they come from? We must hold them in check
all we could, for the great army trains were
not far away.
The day wore on: we took no note of time
till near its close, when Williston planted his
battery for the last time on the lawn OF the
old Virginia statesman, John Minor Bolts.
The 18th Ill. was supporting the battery, when
heavy force of Southern cavalry advanced
from the woods over near Brandy Station.
Three brigades charged them. Oh If the old
gentleman and his daughters were too inter-
ested to seek the shelter of their cellar, they
then witnessed the grandest lawn game over
played on their premises! AS the Southern
red battle-cross waved vigorously over the
horses heads, and the Stars and Stripes waved
from perpendicular stats, through the battle
smoke of charges and counter charges, Camp
bells lines occurred:
Wave. Munich, all thy banners wave,
And charge with all thy chivaryl
Three batteries rained shot and shell upon
our ranks and our little battery. Great fur
rows were plowed by balls ricocheting across
the lawn, as well as gaps in the ranks.
As the sun shone low and red through the
| battle-cloud a new clement entered into the
contest aud confusion Of the field. What could
| all that din of strife back near the station
| mean? Wells, shouts strains of martial music,
and the reports from thousands of small-arms
could be heard, as if stirred in one huge witchs
| cauldron. The enemy ceased paying any at
| tention to us, though a perfect cyclone Of war
seemed raging just over there. Riderless horses
all, nF I'd Il tLo.~