Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-09-12
Copyright. 1903. by G. L. Kilmer.1


the affair at Falling Waters,
~ "here Lee crossed the Potomac
on his retreat from Gettysburg,
the last clash Of arms in that CAM
pa1gn. the troopers in blue and gray.
under Fitzpatrick and Stuart. re-opened
the old fight for the mastery of the
Rappahannock line. Lee retired his
Whole army beyond the Rappahannock
and also south of the Rapidan, tribu-
tary OF the great river. Meade pushed
forward with the Army Of the Poto~
mac to the Rappahannock and sent his
cavalry across to clear the road for
IN advance to Culpeper Court House.
Jeb Stuart was guarding the fords of
the Rappahannock with his troopers.
After the Gettysburg campaign his
corps was organized into two divisions
under Wade Hampton and Fitz Lee.
Cavalry was gaining Importance on
both sides of the line. Starting with
companies and sQuadrons, as they were
at Bull Run in 1861, the evolution led
to battalions, then regiments and in
1867 and the early part Of 1863 to
brigades. AS the numbers Of mounted
troops increased and they were looked
to to play important roles in battle it
was necessary to combine brigades un-
der single leader into divisions Kill
patrick led a division across the Rap
pahannock early on the 18th, hoping
to surprise the enemy and rush upon
the Court House unopposed
Stuart was not to be caught IN
awares, although he was an ease low
Ing soldier in off days Of fighting 1t
happened that surgeon of his staff,
whose wife had died inside the Fed
eral lines shortly before, had received
n permit to remain at his home north
OF the Rappahannock to look after his
personal affairs. Seeing from the
preparations In the Federal camps that
a forward movement was on foot, he
crossed an obscure ford of the river
the night of the 18th and warned
Stuart Of trouble ahead. Stuart sent
his wagons and disabled horses back
behind the Rapidan and deployed his
corps for the defense Of Culpeper
Kilpatrick's leading brigade. under
Colonel H. L. Davies, Jr., crossed the
river ut Kelly's ford at a. m, driving
the enemy's pickets back toward Bran
dy Station, on the railroad. where two
regiments of Stuart's troopers were in
S11np0rfo0 Nv
men were checked BY the fire. and be
brought up two guns. with which the
enemy's pieces were soon silenced
Brandy Station was an old battle
ground, we'll known to Fitzpatrick as
well as to Stuart. Fitzpatrick ordered
Davies to make a detour through the
woods and attack in the direction Of
Culpeper. The Confederates encoun-
tered on the new route were driven
back to the Court House, where Davies
found his advance disputed by another
large force Of cavalry supported by
three guns. Bringing up battery to
shell Stuart's line. Davies sent In two
battalions of the Second New York cav
airy on charge.
In front Of the charging troopers were
ravine and a creek with a steep hill
and rocky road on the other side
The road was swept by shells. but the
line dashed forward CALAMITY up to the
muzzles Of the guns. Using their sabers
only the New Workers drove out the
cannoneers and captured two pieces,
together with twenty men and an Off
Ger. The capture Of the guns. which
belonged to Thompson's Virginia bat
terry, gave Davies control of Culpeper,
but as he pushed on after the retreat
ing enemy his line encountered another
railroad Stuart in person was direct
ing the fight. Davies sent the Fifth
New York on charge against the guns,
but the ground in front was broken and
when the line struck the crest Of the
hill it was attacked by superior num-
bers and forced back
Fitzpatrick quickly galloped to the
head Of the discounted troopers and,
rallying them. led on through a heavy
fire toward the battery. Davies led
up his own regiment, the Second New
York, to support the Fifth. and both
regiments dashed into the woods to-
gether. General Custer was already
fighting with his brigade to clear the
woods, but the enemy was too strong
in front and overlapped the flank Of the
Second New York. Custer was hit in
the head and his horse killed by a she'll.
Fearing second repulse, Davies called
up the First West Virginia cavalry,
which had just been supplied with the
the Spencer repeating rifle, weapon
which became favorite with the cav
airy. The Virginians had not fred a
shot that day and sprang from their
saddles with a will. Rushing into the
woods, the fresh troops turned the
tide with their rapid fire and the whole
line moved forward again.
Either Stuart was not in serious
mood that day at Culpeper
or he had orders from his superior not
to risk a heavy battle. He withdrew
his guns and retreated to the Rapidan
and Fitzpatrick would have hurried his