“You confronted with cavalry and horse artillery alone, this force, held the infantry in check, routed the cavalry and artillery, capturing three pieces of the latter, without losing a gun, and added six flags to the trophies of the nation, besides inflicting a loss in killed, wounded and missing, at least double our own, causing the entire force to retire beyond the Rappahannock.
“Nothing but the enemy’s infantry strongly posted in the woods saved his cavalry from capture or annihilation. An act of rashness on his part was severely punished by rout and the loss of his artillery.
“With an abiding faith in the God of battles and a firm reliance on the sabre, your success will continue.
“Let the example and heroism of our lamented fallen comrades prompt us to renewed vigilance and inspire us with devotion to duty.
“J. E. B. Stuart,
“Major-General Commanding.”
The Orderly Sergeants of the several companies of the battalion made the following reports of the losses of the companies:
- Co. A—wounded 9, missing 7—total 16.
- Co. B—killed 1, wounded 7, missing 12—total 20.
- Co. C—wounded 5, missing 12—total 17.
- Co. D—wounded 3, missing 5—total 8.
- Co. E—killed 2, wounded 2, missing 8—total 12.
- Co. F—killed 1, wounded 1, missing 15—total 17.
After the battle of Brandy Station, Col. White’s command was detached from the Cavalry Division, and ordered by Gen. Lee to report to Lieut.-Gen. Ewell, who had again taken the field and been assigned to the command of the old 2d Corps A. N. V., the men whom General Jackson had so often led to victory, and who believed that the mantle of military inspiration of their now sainted chieftain had fallen upon the person of the lion-hearted Gen. R. S. Ewell, and soon after his disabling wound at Manassas, which now caused him to appear with an artificial leg, Gen. Ewell had told White that if he ever again took the field he wanted White and his boys to be with him, an assurance never forgotten by either of them.
At the time Gen. Ewell crossed the mountain and made his attack upon the enemy at Winchester, adding another to the invariable whippings the bombastic coward and cow-stealer, Milroy, received every time he stood long enough for the rebels to reach him, Col. White asked and obtained permission to make a raid on the Point of Rocks, in the hope of striking again his old enemy, Means.