Kelly's Ford ~ Cavalry and Coffee - Civil War Discovery Trail Sites on Waymarking.com

Pickets of the opposing armies frequently exchange gunfire over the Rappahannock River and occasionally swapped Yankee coffee for Rebel tobacco. On St. Patrick’s Day, 1863, they did both here at Kelly’s Ford, about 100 yards downstream from the bridge.
On this day the cavalry commands of two friends and former West Point classmates, Union Gen. William Averell and Confederate Gen. Fitzhugh Lee, clash for nearly twelve hours in this vicinity. Averell crossed the ford into Culpeper County with orders to destroy Lee’s brigade of Virginia cavalry encamped near here. His division succeeded in driving the Virginians back two miles along present-day Route 674 toward Elkwood. The day-long battle was notable for its numerous mounted saber charges, dismounted skirmishing and mortal wounding of the “gallant” John Pelham, J.E.B. Stuart’s fearless young artillery commander.
Although Aaverell retreated back over the Rappahannock as nightfall approached, he was delighted by the pluck and skill demonstrated by his Federal troopers, so much maligned in the past.

“He is in such high spirits that he leaves a package for Fitzhugh Lee at the river ford. Lee had left a note for his old classmate following the Rebel raid near Hartwood Church. It read, ‘If you won’t go home, return my visit and bring me a sack of coffee.’ Averell replied.’Dear Fitz: Here’s your coffee. Here’s your visit. How do you like it?’” – from Seasons of War by Danial Sutherland (1995). By Permission of the Free Press, a Division of Simon & Shuster. (All text taken from sign)

Type of site: Transportation Route or Facility Admission Charged: No Charge Website: [Web Link] Driving Directions: Near Goldvein, VA, on U.S 17, turn west on Sumerduck Road (route 651). Follow until a right onto Kelly's Ford Road (route 620). Sign is on left just before crossing the river into Culpeper County. Address: Not listed Phone Number: Not listed

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Date Logged Log User Rating   05/31/2011 La de Boheme visited it

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