Today at Brandy Station: June 30, 1863
Not everyone went to Gettysburg. At least two from Huger's Battery remained in Brandy Station.
From R. Thomas Crew's and Benjamin H. Trask's book "Grimes' Battery, Grandy's Battery and Huger's Battery Virginia Artillery:
"Private James Addison (detailed as a blacksmith) and Private Richard Montgomery (detailed as artificer, blacksmith & farrier) at Brandy Station [30 June] through 31 August 1863. Each was paid .40 cents a day extra duty."
Though it isn't documented, I suspect they remained after the Army of Northern Virginia went north.
Huger's Battery holds a special place in my heart. To date at least six of this battery; Edward Moreland, Robert Lewis, Joseph Moore, George W. Butt, John W. Ashe and Robert Peed (5 times) signed the walls of the Graffiti House in Brandy Station.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Breakfast with Beverly
Today in Fauquier County: June 29, 1863
The armies are moving ever closer to a confrontation around the town of Gettysburg. The Federals in the vicinity of Fredrick, Maryland; the Rebels are in Carlisle and York. JEB Stuart is clashing with the 1st Delaware Cavalry in Westminster.
Where is Brig. Gen. Beverly Robertson? On June 28, R.E. Lee sends a messenger to Robertson and Brig. Gen. Grumble Jones, both of whom, with their cavalry are guarding the passes to prevent Federals from encroaching into the Shenandoah Valley. Notice where the Federals are on the 29th?
They will eventually begin to move north, but it will be too late to help the Confederates.
But where is Beverly today? According to the diary of Mrs. Eliza (Ida) Dulany, he is breakfasting with her at her home Oakley near Upperville. I wonder what was on the menu?
The armies are moving ever closer to a confrontation around the town of Gettysburg. The Federals in the vicinity of Fredrick, Maryland; the Rebels are in Carlisle and York. JEB Stuart is clashing with the 1st Delaware Cavalry in Westminster.
Where is Brig. Gen. Beverly Robertson? On June 28, R.E. Lee sends a messenger to Robertson and Brig. Gen. Grumble Jones, both of whom, with their cavalry are guarding the passes to prevent Federals from encroaching into the Shenandoah Valley. Notice where the Federals are on the 29th?
They will eventually begin to move north, but it will be too late to help the Confederates.
But where is Beverly today? According to the diary of Mrs. Eliza (Ida) Dulany, he is breakfasting with her at her home Oakley near Upperville. I wonder what was on the menu?
Thursday, June 24, 2010
A Day Late
Today at Brandy Station (sort of): June 24, 1863
As it appeared in the July 23 issue of the Richmond Daily Dispatch
--A correspondent who participated in the late cavalry fight at Brandy Station, writes us an account of Col. White's 35th Va. battalion in that engagement. It captured a battery, 100 prisoners, and four stand of colors, in which it was aided by a company of the 6th Va. We should publish the letter, but it is written at so late a day that the particulars given have been pretty generally published. We should feel obliged to soldiers for letters descriptive of engagements, if they can be sent to us directly after the engagements occur.
I have always liked this little news clip. The Daily Dispatch is gently reminding those who send letters from soldiers describing events to get them to the paper DIRECTLY after the engagement -- not a couple of weeks later.
So, in honor of this unknown participant from the 35th Virginia Battalion -- whom by the way participated in a great way: 8 killed, 39 wounded and 66 missing for a total of 113 -- by far the largest unit loss in the fight. I decided to post a day late.
As it appeared in the July 23 issue of the Richmond Daily Dispatch
--A correspondent who participated in the late cavalry fight at Brandy Station, writes us an account of Col. White's 35th Va. battalion in that engagement. It captured a battery, 100 prisoners, and four stand of colors, in which it was aided by a company of the 6th Va. We should publish the letter, but it is written at so late a day that the particulars given have been pretty generally published. We should feel obliged to soldiers for letters descriptive of engagements, if they can be sent to us directly after the engagements occur.
I have always liked this little news clip. The Daily Dispatch is gently reminding those who send letters from soldiers describing events to get them to the paper DIRECTLY after the engagement -- not a couple of weeks later.
So, in honor of this unknown participant from the 35th Virginia Battalion -- whom by the way participated in a great way: 8 killed, 39 wounded and 66 missing for a total of 113 -- by far the largest unit loss in the fight. I decided to post a day late.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
An Englishman passes through
Today at Brandy Station: June 20, 1863
From the Colonel Arthur J. L. Freemantle Diaries.
Armed with letters of introduction from the Secretary at War for Generals Lee and Longstreet, I left Richmond at 6 a.m. to join the Virginian army. I was accompanied by a sergeant of the Signal Corps, sent by my kind friend Major Norris, for the purpose of assisting me in getting on. We took the train as far as Culpeper, and arrived there at 5:30 p.m., after having changed cars in Gordonsville…The weather is quite cool after the rain of last night…Culpeper was, until five days ago, the headquarters of Generals Lee and Longstreet; but since Ewell’s recapture of Winchester, the whole army had advanced with rapidity, and it was my object to catch up as quickly as possible. On arriving at Culpeper, my sergeant handed me over to another myrmidon of Major Norris, with orders from that officer to supply me with a horse, and take me himself to join Mr. Lawley, who had passed through for the same purpose as myself three days before. Sergeant Norris, my new chaperon, is cousin to Major Norris, and is a capital fellow. Before the war he was a gentleman of good means in Maryland and was accustomed to a life of luxury. Although he was unwell when we arrived, and it was pouring with rain, he proposed that we should start at once – 6p.m. I agreed, and we did so. Our horses both had sore backs, were both unfed, except on grass, and mine was deficient of a shoe. They nevertheless traveled well, and we reached a hamlet called Woodville, fifteen miles distant; at 9:30. We had great difficulty in procuring shelter; but at length we overcame the in hospitality of a native, who gave us corn for our horses, and a blanket on the floor for ourselves.
Some would call Colonel Freemantle in today's terms a military attache. But in fact, his visit to North America was unofficial, hence he was a tourist. A Englishman from the Coldstreams Guards, he travelled through the south in the spring of 1863, catching up with Lee's Army in time for the Battle of Gettysburg. The Freemantle Diaries is a wonderful read, and gives a very fair treatment (no real bias) of his experiences.
From the Colonel Arthur J. L. Freemantle Diaries.
Armed with letters of introduction from the Secretary at War for Generals Lee and Longstreet, I left Richmond at 6 a.m. to join the Virginian army. I was accompanied by a sergeant of the Signal Corps, sent by my kind friend Major Norris, for the purpose of assisting me in getting on. We took the train as far as Culpeper, and arrived there at 5:30 p.m., after having changed cars in Gordonsville…The weather is quite cool after the rain of last night…Culpeper was, until five days ago, the headquarters of Generals Lee and Longstreet; but since Ewell’s recapture of Winchester, the whole army had advanced with rapidity, and it was my object to catch up as quickly as possible. On arriving at Culpeper, my sergeant handed me over to another myrmidon of Major Norris, with orders from that officer to supply me with a horse, and take me himself to join Mr. Lawley, who had passed through for the same purpose as myself three days before. Sergeant Norris, my new chaperon, is cousin to Major Norris, and is a capital fellow. Before the war he was a gentleman of good means in Maryland and was accustomed to a life of luxury. Although he was unwell when we arrived, and it was pouring with rain, he proposed that we should start at once – 6p.m. I agreed, and we did so. Our horses both had sore backs, were both unfed, except on grass, and mine was deficient of a shoe. They nevertheless traveled well, and we reached a hamlet called Woodville, fifteen miles distant; at 9:30. We had great difficulty in procuring shelter; but at length we overcame the in hospitality of a native, who gave us corn for our horses, and a blanket on the floor for ourselves.
Some would call Colonel Freemantle in today's terms a military attache. But in fact, his visit to North America was unofficial, hence he was a tourist. A Englishman from the Coldstreams Guards, he travelled through the south in the spring of 1863, catching up with Lee's Army in time for the Battle of Gettysburg. The Freemantle Diaries is a wonderful read, and gives a very fair treatment (no real bias) of his experiences.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
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
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
Monday, June 14, 2010
Marched to Catlett Station
Today at Brandy Station: June 14, 1863
From the diary of Edwin Weist, 20th Indiana Infantry Regiment
Cadlit station. Revellie at 3. o.clock this morning with orders to be ready to march at 4. Did not get started till 4 in the evening however. Marched to Cadlit station where we arrived about 9. o.clock. The road we passed over was very familliar to me who had been over so often. The house at wich Gen. Kearny had his head quarters is in sight.
The 20th Indiana -- assigned to Brig. Gen. J.H. Hobart Ward's Brigade, Maj. Gen. David Birney's First Division of Dan Sickle's Third Corps -- has left Stafford County and now is moving up the Rappahannock, shadowing the Army of Northern Virginia as both armies move towards Gettysburg.
From the diary of Edwin Weist, 20th Indiana Infantry Regiment
Cadlit station. Revellie at 3. o.clock this morning with orders to be ready to march at 4. Did not get started till 4 in the evening however. Marched to Cadlit station where we arrived about 9. o.clock. The road we passed over was very familliar to me who had been over so often. The house at wich Gen. Kearny had his head quarters is in sight.
The 20th Indiana -- assigned to Brig. Gen. J.H. Hobart Ward's Brigade, Maj. Gen. David Birney's First Division of Dan Sickle's Third Corps -- has left Stafford County and now is moving up the Rappahannock, shadowing the Army of Northern Virginia as both armies move towards Gettysburg.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
The Prisoners Arrive
Today at Brandy Station: June 13, 1863
Two articles from the Richmond Dispatch:
--Fifty-nine Yankees, most of them wounded, captured in the fight at Brandy Station, were received at the Libby prison during the day yesterday.
--The fight at Brandy Station
The following dispatch, dated Washington, June 9th, is the only notice of the fight in Culpeper which has reached the New York papers:
A severe engagement took place this morning between our cavalry and that of the rebels, under Gen. Stuart. The locality at which it occurred was Beverly's ford, on the Rappahannock, five miles above Rappahannock Station and about the same distance below the Sulphur Springs.
Two articles from the Richmond Dispatch:
--Fifty-nine Yankees, most of them wounded, captured in the fight at Brandy Station, were received at the Libby prison during the day yesterday.
--The fight at Brandy Station
The following dispatch, dated Washington, June 9th, is the only notice of the fight in Culpeper which has reached the New York papers:
A severe engagement took place this morning between our cavalry and that of the rebels, under Gen. Stuart. The locality at which it occurred was Beverly's ford, on the Rappahannock, five miles above Rappahannock Station and about the same distance below the Sulphur Springs.
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