The National tribune., 1905-11-09

cannot soon be forgotten by the "boys
in blue" who crossed sabers with the
Confederates at Brandy Station.
Converging and diverging roads at
this point quite naturally brought the
cavalry Of the contending armies to-
gethsr whenever we advanced to or re-
tired from the Rapidan. Being both
the advance and rear guard Of the
Army Of the Potomac, our horsemen al
ways found themselves face to face
with the foe on this field; in fact, most
OF our cavalrymen were SO confident
OF fight here that as soon as we dis
covered that We were approaching the
Station we prepared for action by tight
ening our saddle-girths and inspecting
our arms.
First Brandy Station.
Upon the withdrawal Of our troops
from the Peninsula, Gen. Lee, contem-
plating the invasion Of Maryland and
Pennsylvania, started his army north
ward with the view, no doubt of driv-
ing Pope from northern Virginia and
carrying the Confederate standard into
the loyal States. The battle of Cedar
Mountain temporarily checked his for
ward movement and compelled him to
retire to the south bank Of the Rapidan.
The temperance of Confederate skir-
river on the morning Of Aug. Is, 1862,
was an evidence to our pickets that the
enemy was about to resume hostilities.
Gen. Pope at once ordered his artil-
lery and infantry to retire beyond the
Rappahannock, while Gen. Bayard,
with covering the rear of the retiring
army. We disputed the advance Of the
Confederates SO stubbornly that they
found no opportunity to interfere with
the retreat of our main column. The
morning Of the 10th found the Harris
4 srrlot - 1c%n n~ 1.k -
r. l., and 1st n. j. Cav. bivouacked at
Brandy Station.
The engagement opened at o'clock
by an attack Of Stuarts cavalry upon
the Harris Light" acting as rear
guard of Bayard's Brigade.
repulsed by the Harris Light" which
regiment kept the enemy in check un-
til Gen. Bayard had gained sufficient
time to enable him to form his COM
mand at a more favorable point two
miles north of the Station, on the di-
rect road to the Rappahannock. Here
the Harris Light" led by Col. Kilpat-
rick and Maj. Davies, again charged
the advance regiments Of the Confeder-
ate column, thus opening the series of
memorable conflicts at Brandy Station
and adding fresh laurels to it's already
famous record. A deep cut in hill
through which the Orange & AleXan-
dria Railroad passes checked our pur-
suit, else we should have captured
many prisoners. The 1st N. j. and 1st
Pa. coming to our relief enabled us to
reform our broken squadrOns, but as
Pope had instructed Gen. Bayard not
to bring on q general engagement, the
Union cavalry now crossed the Kappa
hammock and awaited the orders Of the
General. in Chief.
Second Brandy Station.
The battle of charlottesville did not
materially change the positions of the
contending armies, but Gen. Lee, en-
his new adversary to retrace his steps
across the Rappahannock, began at
once to put himself in a condition to
take the offensive. This activity in the
Confederate camp soon determined
Gen. Hooker. to make a reconnaissance
in force, and he accordingly instructed
Gen. PleasontOn, now in command of
the Cavalry Corps, to proceed to Gull
peper, break up Stuart's encampment
at that point, and ascertain, Ii possi-
BILE, the whereabouts and probable des-
tination OF the Confederate chief.
AT o'clock in the afternoon Of June
the Cavalry Corps moved from its
temporary headquarters at Warrenton
Junction towards the Rappahannock.
We moved in two columns, one taking
the road to Beverly and the other to
Kelly's Ford.
Early on the morning Of the 9th we
arrived at the river, where It was evil
dent we were not expected in force, for
We found nothing but strong picket
guard to contest our advance.
A brief though brisk skirmish took