Battle of Brandy Station in the Civil War

Battle of Brandy Station in the Civil War Battle of Brandy Station - Conflict Date: The Battle of Brandy Station was fought June 9, 1863, during the American Civil War (1861-1865). Armies Commanders Union Major General Alfred Pleasonton11,000 men Confederate Major General J.E.B. Stuart9,500 men Battle of Brandy Station - Background: In the wake of his stunning victory at the Battle of Chancellorsville, Confederate General Robert E. Lee began making preparations to invade the North. Prior to embarking on this operation, he moved to consolidate his army near Culpeper, VA. Early June 1863, the corps of Lieutenant General James Longstreet and Richard Ewell had arrived while the Confederate cavalry, led by Major General J.E.B. Stuart screened to the east. Moving his five brigades into camp around Brandy Station, the dashing Stuart requested a full field review of his troops by Lee. Scheduled for June 5, this saw Stuarts men move through a simulated battle near Inlet Station. As Lee proved unable to attend on June 5, this review was re-staged in his presence three days later, though without the mock battle. While impressive to behold, many criticized Stuart for needlessly tiring his men and horses. With the conclusion of these activities, Lee issued orders for Stuart to cross the Rappahannock River the next day and raid advanced Union positions. Understanding that Lee intended to begin his offensive shortly, Stuart moved his men back into camp to prepare for the next day. Battle of Brandy Station - Pleasontons Plan: Across the Rappahannock, the commander of the Army of the Potomac, Major General Joseph Hooker, sought to ascertain Lees intentions. Believing that the Confederate concentration at Culpeper signaled a threat to his supply lines, he summoned his cavalry chief, Major General Alfred Pleasonton, and ordered him to conduct a spoiling attack to disperse the Confederates at Brandy Station. To assist with the operation, Pleasonton was given two select brigades of infantry led by Brigadier Generals Adelbert Ames and David A. Russell. Though the Union cavalry had performed poorly to date, Pleasonton devised a daring plan which called for dividing his command into two wings. The Right Wing, consisting of Brigadier General John Bufords 1st Cavalry Division, a Reserve Brigade led by Major Charles J. Whiting, and Ames men, was to cross the Rappahannock at Beverlys Ford and advance south toward Brandy Station. The Left Wing, led by Brigadier General David McM. Gregg, was to cross to the east at Kellys Ford and attack from the east and south to catch the Confederates in a double envelopment. Battle of Brandy Station - Stuart Surprised: Around 4:30 AM on June 9, Bufords men, accompanied by Pleasonton, began crossing the river in a thick fog. Quickly overwhelming the Confederate pickets at Beverlys Ford, the pushed south. Alerted to the threat by this engagement, the stunned men of Brigadier General William E. Grumble Jones brigade rushed to the scene. Barely prepared for battle, they succeeded in briefly holding up Bufords advance. This allowed Stuarts Horse Artillery, which had nearly been taken unawares, to escape south and establish a position on two knolls flanking the Beverlys Ford Road (Map). While Jones men fell back to a position on the right of the road, Brigadier General Wade Hamptons brigade formed on the left. As the fighting escalated, the 6th Pennsylvania Cavalry unsuccessfully charged forward in an attempt to take the Confederate guns near St. James Church. As his men fought around the church, Buford began probing for a way around the Confederate left. These endeavors led him to encounter Brigadier General W.H.F. Rooney Lees brigade which had assumed a position behind a stone wall in front of Yew Ridge. In heavy fighting, Bufords men succeeded in driving Lee back and taking the position. Battle of Brandy Station - A Second Surprise: As Buford advanced against Lee, Union troopers engaging the St. James Church line were stunned to see Jones and Hamptons men retreating. This movement was in reaction to the arrival of Greggs column from Kellys Ford. Having crossed early that morning with his 3rd Cavalry Division, Colonel Alfred Duffià ©s small 2nd Cavalry Division, and Russells brigade, Gregg had been blocked from advancing directly on Brandy Station by Brigadier General Beverly H. Robertsons brigade which had taken a position on the Kellys Ford Road. Shifting south, he succeeded in finding an unguarded road which led into Stuarts rear. Advancing, Colonel Percy Wyndhams brigade led Greggs force into Brandy Station around 11:00 AM. Gregg was separated from Bufords fight by a large rise to the north known as Fleetwood Hill. The site of Stuarts headquarters before the battle, the hill was largely unoccupied except for a lone Confederate howitzer. Opening fire, it caused the Union troops to pause briefly. This permitted a messenger to reach Stuart and inform him of the new threat. As Wyndhams men began their attack up the hill, they were met by Jones troops riding in from St. James. Church (Map). Moving to join the battle, the Colonel Judson Kilpatricks brigade moved east and assaulted the south slope of Fleetwood. This attack was met by Hamptons arriving men. The battle soon deteriorated into a series of bloody charges and countercharges as both sides sought control of Fleetwood Hill. The fighting ended with Stuarts men in possession. Having been engaged by Confederate troops near Stevensburg, Duffià ©s men arrived too late to alter the outcome on the hill. To the north, Buford maintained pressure on Lee, forcing him to retreat to the hills northern slopes. Reinforced late in the day, Lee counterattacked Buford but found that the Union troops were already departing as Pleasonton had ordered a general withdrawal near sunset. Battle of Brandy Station - Aftermath: Union casualties in the fighting numbered 907 while the Confederates sustained 523. Among the wounded was Rooney Lee who was later captured on June 26. Though the fighting was largely inconclusive, it marked a turning point for the much-maligned Union cavalry. For the first time during the war, they matched their Confederate counterparts skill on the battlefield. In the wake of the battle, Pleasonton was criticized by some for not pressing home his attacks to destroy Stuarts command. He defended himself by stating that his orders had been for a reconnaissance in force toward Culpeper. Following the battle, an embarrassed Stuart attempted to claim victory on the grounds that the enemy had departed the field. This did little to hide the fact that he had been badly surprised and caught unawares by the Union attack. Chastised in the Southern press, his performance continued to suffer as he made key mistakes during the upcoming Gettysburg Campaign. The Battle of Brandy Station was the largest predominantly cavalry engagement of the war as well as the largest fought on American soil. Selected Sources National Park Service: Battle of Brandy Station CWPT: Battle of Brandy Station