The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-01-28
Major Won Boerck's Account Of the Brandy
station Hight.
Richmond. Va. Jan. ., IS

Richmond, Va, JAN -, 1891.
Editor Of the Times: In justice TO my
self and the Twelfth Virginia Cavalry
l cannot permit Major Won Boerck's ac-
count Of the engagement at Fleetwood to
pass uncorrecied.
ON the 9Th Of June, 1865, / received an
order 10 hasten with my command TO
Brandy Station. At the time ] was below
ST. James church. two miles distant. AZ
a trot and then sallop, the order was
obeyed.
ON reaching Fleetwood. with the adj
vance Of the regiment mot more than
ffty mem, / found General Stuarts Ad-
iutant-General, Mcclellan, there, only
with a few couriers The Federals were
not more than one hundred yards of, and
advancing in fine order and in large
force. Owing 10 the rapid march and
the nature Of the ground my regiment
was stretched out FOR mile; not even
CAPTAIN &. Il. O'Ferrall with the first
squadron. was in supporting distance.
There was no time 10 wait. ! must
either strike him or fan back and let
him take undsputed possession Of the
hill. / gave the order 10 charge, and
hurled fifty brave and determined men
into the head Of his advancing column,
and struck IL just as he was crossing
the small branch al the foot Of the hill.
This alone saved MS from total destruc-
ton. The officer leading the Federal adj
vance was killed. l was painfully
wounded, and nearly every man with me
bore the mark of a sabre cut or bullet.
We were beaten aud forced back, but
not closely followed. On reaching the top
OF the hill my regiment was close up l
gave the order. and Captain G. r. OFer-
rail. with two squadrons, drove All De-
fore him ON the right and Major Knott
with two squadrons, cleared the hiil 10
the left, while. with Captain Sipe' L heln
the hill and II Fleetwood was taken II
was after I was ordered 10 join General
Jones at the Barbour house.
At no time during the day was the
Twelfth thrown in disorder or defeated
or any portion Of it. except the advance
led by myself, at Fleetwood ana inns,
though driven back, as all wen knew IL
would be- its object was obtained, ana the
Federal column was detained long enough
to enable OFerrall and Knott 90 beat
HIM and q part OF Company H., led by
Lieutenant Randolph, early in the morn
ing at Beverly Ford lieutenant Ran
dolph was severely wounded. Inc
Twelfth was the first to repel the Federal
advance, at daylight, OF Beverly foru'
Having heard unusual firing, we ahli0i-
pated the order and were ready 10 move
when II was given. They were tue IA - -
and only troops to reach Fleetwood IN
time TO save the position; and MAJOR
Mcclellan so states in his report OF
this tight. See chapter 10. page ~ III
his Life Of General Stuart.
Major Won BOcrck was several mites
from Fleetwood. by his own account
vainly cndeavoring 10 rally. not de-
feated command, but stamDeded one
IL Colonel Whites position at or near
St James church was nearer fleet"oou
than that Of the Twelfth. 1t IS iair 10
presume he received the order 10 hasten
10 Brandy Station at the same tihe' II
not before. | did. The Twelfth was more
than 1000 strong. Colonel Whites pat
tallion, scarcely il any larger than tha'
Of the Twelfth squadron, why did he ioi-
low ia the wake Of the TWelfthE Ihere
was ample room through the old Held We
had to pass to reach Fleetwood, ana II
his command was IN disorder 1t was nc
fault OF my regiment.
The record OF the Twelfth Cavalry. IRON
Brandy Station. in 1862: II was formed
short time previous 10 this. from General
Ashbys command. when it led General
Jacksons advance in rear OF Popes army
10 the high bridge i'm 1855. where
Il made It's last fight, after General Lee
surrendered; and its leader. Major
Knott was killed. Respt yours.
A. W. HARTMAN.