The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-03-04
AT BRANDY STATION, Va.
mr. GREATEST CATALRr BATTLE
or THE PRESENT AGE.
,.,.r.,,inr Description OF tho fishs ana
what Led Up to j., by C"io"ei va"
po,ess and Capitals sehsIoert.

xs,,r, ana Dtsn K he na''ie-
treros Won Borcke, the chief OF staH'
oa,tnc been engaged as a combatant, IKE
captsin Schelbert. at various points OF 'he
battlefield, the publishers deemed 1t ad-
,,sable TO add extracts from the diaries
Of both. which will aid materially in clear
ing up the picture Of the complicated bat
lie and the events preceding It,
"The comparative quiet after the VIC
tory gained by the Coniederates AFGHAN
cellorsvile, on May Sth, had been mace
,ood use Of during the balance or the
month by General Lee In preparing his
army for the impending summer cam
paign. Longstreets troops were again re-
called from North Carolina. and several
prgades Of Beauregard's army were or
dered back from South Carolina. The IN
iantry of the Army of Northern Virginia
was subsequently divided into three corps
Of about 2J.cOO men each, OF which Long
street commanded the First, Eweu tue
second. and A. y. Hill the Ihird' Inc
artillery and cavalry were also largely
reinforced, and the gaps caused by the
spring campaign were reilled- ms We
.eneciallv necessary in the latter wnere
virginia Valley were added. and a large
number Of men away on leave returned
from their distant homes WIN iiesh
horses.
The cavalry under Stuart was formed
INTO a CORPS. consisting Of three divisions.
commanded by Hampton, Fltz Lee, ana
William Lee. although in the official re-
ports the old-time distinctions were sun
retained and the Official promotions h'in
not yet been communicated.
The total army, about $1,000 men strong
all experienced men and commanded by
experienced leaders, perhaps never haa
oeen I'm better trim than at this time
md the Commander-in-chief. General X.
D. Lee after consulting President DAVIS,
decided 10 clear the Shenandoah Valley
from the enemy and to transplant the
war into the territory of the adversary
after crossing the Potomac, which then
formed the boundary line between the
hostile forces.
Early in June, therefore, the army was
moved from Fredericksburg towards Cui-
pepper Courthouse, only small corps OF
observation having been left at the FORMER
place TO watch and deceive the enemy.
The cavalry, which since May 10Th had
been in bivouac near the town of Cul-
the fords Of the Rappahannock and Hazel
rivers for the purpose Of defending these
crossings and Of covering up the move
ments Of the principal army. At this mo-
nent General Stuart had about 1900 cav
,lrymen concentrated, and he could not
Ieny himself the pleasure Of presenting
his imposing force to the patriotic Gill
zens of Virginia in grand review June
tn was set down for this purpose, and
Grand preparations had been made for
he military spectacle. Guests had been
invited from all sections of the state ana
the fair sex was largely IN the majority
among the sight-seers.
1t was a beautiful sunny afternoon wnen
we rode through the village with full
equipments to the parade grounds, dis
lance Of about two miles, being greeted
everywhere with the greatest enthusiasm
On the part of the jubilsnt popuiace, VINO
we're anxious TO witness the great snow
1t was a proud moment when we ap-
preached in a gallop the troops formed
n q lire more than three miles long ana
.reeted with the roaring hurrahs OF many
thousands Of brave cavalrymen. After
passing in review the regiments made
mock charge ia full gallop, the twenty
four guns Of the mounted artillery taking
an active part on the right and left and
opening q lively fire upon supposed
enemy.
This imposing spectacle created a real
storm Of enthusiasm among the specta-
tors, which SIN continued with the young
ladies' when subsequently We brought the
beautiful day 10 a close with merry
ball by torchhght upon a large lawn near
cuI eper.
On June 7th or headquarters were
moved closer 70 the front near Brandy
station, and on June Sth Con. lee In
spected or corps on that occasion we
lad no charming ladies as spectators, but
about six thousand or eight thousand sun
burned warriors of Hoods Texas
division. VINO had asked as
favor TO be permitted to be present.
rhis review had hardly been completed
when suddenly reports were received
from the outposts stating that large
masses Of hostile artillery had appeared
at the various fords. and showed signs OF
enforcing the passage. This Information,
Of course. brought Us TO the front Il once
with a few brigades. but except some
skirmshing between the enemy and the
outposts. 30 serious hent took pace,
and towards evening The troops could
return into their beyouacs. However the
lime for brief rest rad passed. and the
TWO armies. IL came with full force on
he part of the enemy, and even sooner
than General Stuart expected. notwith-
standing the little reminder just received,
ne being of the opinion that the Yankees
would be satisfied with that demOnstra-
lion for the time beng.
The cavalry of the Northern States had
been greatly improved during the two
years Of the war, and especially during
the recent months. and in number IL
was far superior 10 that of the Southern
States. The same could be said as to the
uniformity and quality of its arms and
equipments and as TO its discipline and
details.
On Stuarts side the material Of horses,
the horsemanship OF the individuals con-
tinued to be superior. This was also the
case in regard 10 the ability Of the lead
ers together with the nimbus which
Stuarts shining cavalris,ic genius
spread around his troops.
Moved by a certain preSentment OF
something about to happen. and dopress-
ed by the disagr cable fact that two splon-
did horses Of mine. which l needed very
much for the beginning ca~paign, had
escaped on the previous day from the
pasture by the negligence OF my negro.
and were possibly lost forever. ] could
lind but little sleep during The night from
June Sth 10 Sth. and towaI Us daybreak
l awoke from ny half-slumber. disturbed
by several dun detonations, which 1 took
for the sound OF distant cannon firing.
l jumped up quickly. and after calling
my companion and guest. Captain Schci-
bert. hurried out OF the tent.
Thick clouds Of fog arose from the beds
OF the Hazel and Rappahannocl1 rivers
IN the direction of the enemy. and, driven
III our direction by a light morning
breeze they soon covered the plain in
front Of us and the woods behind IL
thereby rendering the outlook rather dini-
Quilt EuI IL.r. .L-.in IL. Ann -.--.--.