Battle Of Brandy Station - Culpeper County VA
N 38° 30.583 W 077° 52.757
18S E 248942 N 4266301
A stone monument with plaque commemorates the Battle of Brandy Station.
Waymark Code: WMBVQW
Location: Virginia, United States
Date Posted: 06/24/2011
Views: 3
During the Civil War, following successes at the battles at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville in Virginia, Confederate Gen. R. E. Lee moved his infantry to Culpeper in early June 1863 in preparation for an offense into Pennsylvania. Gen. J.E.B. Stuart's cavalry were stationed north of town at Brandy Station to hold the line at the Rappahannock River and screen the moves of the Confederate army. On June 9, Stuart's horse was surprised by the Union cavalry led by Gen. Alfred Pleasonton. One of the key attacks was at Fleetwood Hill, Stuart's headquarters. The Confederates fired the only mounted cannon and the Federals was tricked into halting their attack unsure if there was a line of artillery on the hill. It was enough time for the rest of the Rebel cavalry who had been fighting at nearby St. James Church to withdraw and ride to assist at Fleetwood Hill. The Confederate cavalry barely held the Union back. The conflict at Brandy Station was the largest cavalry battle fought in North America with about 20,000 soldiers involved.
A monument stands at Fleetwood Hill on Fleetwood Heights Rd. in Brandy Station. The plaque reads:
BATTLE OF BRANDY STATION
GREATEST CAVALRY BATTLE OF THE CIVIL WAR
- FOUGHT JUNE 9, 1863 -
GEN. J.E.B. STUART DEFEATED GEN. A. PLEASONTON
CONFEDERATES ENGAGED, 10,200. FEDERALS, 10,900
CASUALTIES, CONFEDERATES, 485. FEDERALS, 866
- THIS IS FLEETWOOD HILL -
THE CRUCIAL POSITION
FINALLY OCCUPIED BY THE CONFEDERATES.
A set of concrete steps leads to the stone monument from the road. Although it is surrounded by private property, parking is adjacent in a driveway on the right. Use caution when in the road.
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