The Second Burning of the Rappahannock River Bridge

Today along the Rappahannock: August 23, 1862

In the morning Gen. Longstreet drove the enemy across the Rappahannock Bridge, with a loss to them, but they succeeded in burning the bridge. Gen. Jackson remained at Lee’s Springs all day and took infantry and artillery over to the hills across the river. The enemy came up late in the P.M. and we opened on them; they replied and a fierce artillery duel took place. When the enemy’s infantry advanced a Georgia regiment charged on them with a yell and drove them away. I came up in the afternoon and found all engaged on fixing to cross the river. Gen. Stuart got back from an expedition to the enemy’s rear at Catlett’s, he captured wagons; some 300 prisoners, money, Pope’s Hd. Qr.s papers, etc. There was a heavy rain in the P.M. and the streams are getting up.

The Orange & Alexander bridge over the Rappahannock River at Rappahannock Station would suffer the fate of being destroyed throughtout the war. This episode was the second burning of the year. The first was done by the Confederates the previous spring, when they evacuated Culpeper in April.

Powell Returns Home

Today at Brandy Station: June 16, 2010

A. P. Hill's Third Corps, Army of Northern Virginia begins crossing the Rappahannock today and makes camp in and around Culpeper Court House. The Third is the last of Lee's army to head north. Hill was born and raised in Culpeper (his boyhood home still stands), returns home as a corps commander for the first time.

By the 16th, Robert Rodes Division of Richard Ewell's Corps has already crossed the Potomac and is beyond Williamsport, Maryland. This is after Ewell invested Winchester (June 13-15). James Longstreet is at Gaines Crossroads with George Pickett's Division and Lafayette McLaw's Division is in the vicinity of Sperryville and John Hood's Division in in Markham, just east of Manassas Gap.

The Army of the Potomac has also begun it's slide to the north, doing it's best to keep between the Rebels and Washington, D.C.

A very nice study of the Lee's movement north can be found in Blue & Gray's Spring 2004 issue. The lead article "Lee Steals A March On Joe Hooker, June 1863 was written by Bud Hall. Back issues are still available

"Be Troubled ye Careless Ones"

Today at Brandy Station: June 7, 1863

It is a Sunday, but the Rebels our on the march.

The Fluvanna Artillery passed through Vierdieville and Somerville, and reached Culpeper at 3pm.

Richard Ewell's Corps crossed the Rapidan at Raccoon and Summerville Fords, Ewell was their to greet his men, and cheers went up as he moved along the column. Ewell would arrive in Culpeper around 10 am and be met there by Robert E. Lee. His Corps would move north along the Rixeyville Road, north of town. Robert Rodes' Division in the lead, Jubal Early and Edward Johnson's Divisions about four miles behind

James Longstreet Corps had already arrived. His Corps was camped Southwest of Pony Mountain, just outside town. John Bell Hood's Division was just coming back from near the river. Lafayette McLaws was marching through town and his division would camp along the Sperryville Road.

George Pickett's Division and the whole of A.P. Hill's Corps had yet to arrive.

JEB Stuart's Cavalry was spread out in front of the Infantry, providing the screen in case Yankee cavalry poked its head across the Rappahannock. However, one Yankee column did cross into Culpeper County.

Alfred Napolean Duffi'e's command moved across the Rappahannock and at Jeffersonton, turned south towards the Hazel River and Rixeyville. He returned back into Fauquier County, failing to find any enemy. He did not see and Confederate Cavalry, which were posted the Sperryville Turnpike and at Brandy Station, on either side of the Rixeyville Road his avenue of approach.

The grass was high and thick, the air bracing.

Back in Falmouth, those soldiers of the 4th Michigan Infantry who decided to attend church, heard a sermon titled, "Be troubled ye careless ones."