Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1909-08-24
Battle Of Brandy station.


recent date, copy of which has been
handed US by Mr.. VIM Bates. contains
the following, which will be found of in
terest to Jefferson county readers. DR..
Bell was a former Jefferson county
hoy" aud has a number of relatives
about Middleway:
/ A pleasant meeting of the r. E. Lee
chapter was held Wednesday afternoon,
! June 9. with Mrs Bette Wheeler at her
home on South Odell The musical pro-
gram included several numbers on the
piano player, and some rousing old time
instrumental numbers by Mrs. w. B.
Napton. including Dixie" of course
/ Several matters of business were attended
to, among them arrangements for a
picnic to be given by the Chapter at
Wilton the second Wednesday. BY the
request of the president. Mrs. F. E.
Rigney. Mrs ID. F. Bell read an interest
ing paper which had been written that
morning by her husband. DIR. D. F. Bell
1t was the anniversary of the battle of
| Brandy Station. Virginia, which was
fought June 9. 1868. and in which DR.
Bell was severely wounded in the arm.
Sitting in his invalid chair musing over
the past, and especially of the incidents
of the memorable battle of 40 years ago,
he wrote the paper for his own pleasure.
Soon after it was finished Mrs Rigney
called and Mrs. Bell read It to her. The
Chapters president insisted that it must
be read at the meeting that afternoon,
and it proved a very interesting, and
entertaining feature. We are glad to be
able TO publish the paper in full, as we
are sure DR.. Bells hosts of friends in this
city will read it with pleasure:
BATTLE OF BRANDY STATION.
As Isittoday Qune q my thoughts bring
up to mind the tragedy that occurred on
the 9th day of June about 45 years ago.
The morning was beautiful, at daylight
there was nothing to indicate the stirring
events that followed soon after. The sun
had not yet risen when shots were heard
in our front and almost immediately
thereafter the pickets from the front came
in, the federal pickets close behind the
Confederate. Confusion was apparent
for few moments, b1t only for little
time. for owing to the discipline of an
army. confusion could not exist for but a
moment In less time than 1t has taken
to tell YOU this, the Confederates we're
mounted and in line ready for defensive
or offensive action. The Federal army
assumed the offensive and we accepted
the challenge to battle. aud before the
sun noted 9 O'Clock the fight was on in
earnest and charge and counter charge,
feint, double quick and forced march was
the order. AS reinforcem ents came upon
the field, the battle ground assumed larger
proportions until at midday the fighting
extended for two or three miles, or from
the station on the railroad to the river
and as much as the same distance the
other way Regiments that were de-
ployed as skirmishers early in the day
were now joined with other regiments
and charges by brigade were the order.
The guns of the mountt artillery were
heard now often and at various points.
Thousands Of men were engaged in this
battle. AS many as 1000 and possibly
5000 persons were engaged in the COM
bat, and possibly as many as twelve or
fifteen hundred me were left unfit for
duty al roll call the next day, and MANY
men never answered another roll call
The battle Was as | nave said. on the o h
of June, on Tuesday. and on the SUNDAY
before the grand review of all the cavalry
OF Lees army took place on the same
ground almost, which was the battle field
OF the following Ius sdsy That review
was grand sight. Lee was there.
Stuart was there and all the Others. lack
son was absent; the Charlottesville
fight was a few weeks before the dav in
June and Stonewall was over the river
49, 81 iSoA uHtCi TIC Slldut Oh the trees.
The review had put the Confederates
in good condition for either attack or
defense, and the manner of their defense
will not be forgotten by those who were
engaged in it Nor Will the bravery OF
the attack by the Federals soon be for. |
gotten. American valor and courage
was again demonstrated, and though the |
Federal soldiers retired from the field |
at about I or 2 O'clock in the evening. |
they left i'll good order and went back to
the north side of the river Instances of
personal bravery and endurance we're
1t would be wrong to men.
ton any one for fear someone equally
deserving should be omitted aud thus be
robbed Of what was his as much as any
one. For this reason | will not say any
hing about it The years pass-the
soldiers of the Confederacy scattered
over the world and prob ably six years
after three of the men who took part in
his tragedy happened to drift into the
same little, village in Saline county.
No and one day while talking OF past
vents found that all three of them had
'een engaged in this battle | have been
peaking of The Confederates called
Battle of Brandy Station" and l
hink the Federals called it Battle of
'iatwood. Of the latter | am not so
ertain. We three, on June O. were talk ;,
1g of other days and, as | have said 1
ound that we had all been in that fight,
nd by reason of this tact decided to | il
ave dinner on that day every year as
~. 4 4 i