Life of J. E. B. Stuart

by Mary L. Williamson

On October 9, General Lee commenced the movement around the right of General Meade’s army which is called the “Bristoe Campaign.” In this campaign, the cavalry was sorely tried. Fitz Lee—who, as you have been told, had been promoted to the rank of major general—was left at Raccoon Ford, supported by two brigades of infantry, to hold Lee’s line and to make Meade believe that Lee’s whole army was still encamped at that place. Stuart with Hampton’s division moved to the right of Lee’s army as it again marched northward; it was his duty to prevent the Federals from finding out Lee’s movements and to protect the army from attacks.

Now followed a series of sharp engagements between the cavalry of the two armies. There was a skirmish near James City after which the Federals retired toward Culpeper Courthouse. The next morning, Stuart followed them. Three miles from the Courthouse, he met and drove in the Federal pickets. But he now found out that Meade was retreating from the Rappahannock and that Fitz Lee, who had fought a battle at Raccoon Ford, was advancing towards Brandy Station,—fighting Buford as he marched.

Stuart knew that Kilpatrick was at Culpeper Courthouse awaiting his attack, but on receiving this news he turned at once northward toward Brandy Station, hoping to join Fitz Lee and get possession of Fleetwood Hill from which he had driven the Federal cavalry in June. If he could carry out this plan, he would cut off Kilpatrick from Buford. Kilpatrick, who had massed his force of about four thousand men on the open space east of the Courthouse at Culpeper waiting the attack of Stuart, soon found out that the latter had eluded him and was hurrying toward Brandy Station. He, therefore, began a race for the same position.

Unfortunately, Stuart was delayed by a skirmish with Federal forces and when he came in sight of Brandy Station, he saw that Kilpatrick had beaten him in the race. Buford, who was being pursued by Fitz Lee, had already taken possession of Fleetwood Hill and placed his artillery upon its crest. Stuart had moved so rapidly that he had left his artillery far behind, but Fitz Lee’s guns were booming as he came into position.

Fitz Lee joined Stuart and they at once attacked Kilpatrick’s and Buford’s forces, now under the command of Major-General Pleasanton. The Federals fought bravely, but they were steadily pushed toward their position on Fleetwood Hill. It was now late in the afternoon, and Stuart, declining to attack them in their strong position, sent Fitz Lee to the left as if to cut off the Federals from the river. As soon as Pleasanton perceived this flanking movement, he withdrew from Fleetwood Hill and, protected by his artillery, crossed the river. Stuart’s weary troopers camped that night once more around Brandy Station, well pleased at having gained a decided victory over such large forces.

Two days later, Stuart reached Warrenton where the whole army was encamped and he immediately received orders to proceed toward Catlett’s Station with two thousand men and seven guns, for the purpose of gaining accurate information about the position of Meade’s army.

General Meade had started his forces back toward Culpeper Courthouse to engage General Lee in battle, but he found out that Lee was marching around his right, so as to get between him and Washington city. On receiving this information, Meade at once recalled his forces. These movements and countermovements came near resulting disastrously to Stuart who was caught between the advancing and retreating divisions of the Federals.

When he reached Catlett’s Station, he found that a column of Federal infantry was moving toward that place. He at once fell back on the road to Warrenton and found another Federal corps in his rear. His situation was now one of great peril. It seemed that his force would either be captured or cut to pieces.

Fortunately, when Stuart perceived his danger he was emerging from a piece of woods and night was closing in. He at once retired his command to the depths of the woods and called a council of his officers. They were so near the enemy that the neighing of a horse or the clash of a saber could be heard, and to make retreat impossible, they were hemmed in on one side by a swollen stream and on the other side by a forest. At first, it was proposed to leave the seven guns and cut their way out. Stuart, however, would not agree to abandon his artillery. At last, officers went through the command and ordered each man to stand by his horse’s head, and to make no sound himself nor let his horse make any.

As soon as it was dark, Stuart ordered four trusted men to make their way to General Lee at Culpeper Courthouse. They were to inform him of the dangerous position of the cavalry and ask him to send aid as soon as possible. Then followed long hours of anxious waiting. During the night, a Federal corps marched past the front of Stuart’s position, but fortunately the noise of the moving column prevented the Federals from detecting the presence of the Confederates within the woods.