Brandy Station Battlefield - St. James Church - Civil War Discovery Trail Sites on Waymarking.com

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 who had crossed the Rappahannock at Beverly's Ford. Confederate artillery was set up along Beverly's Ford Rd. and they barely managed to repel the Union charge.

The Confederate horse artillery held the line at the St. James Church which was on a strategic knoll near the road from Beverly's Ford, but another Union force attacked nearby Fleetwood Hill and the Confederates abandoned the position to shift forces to the new threat.

Brandy Station was the largest cavalry battle of the Civil War. A CWDT marker is at the intersection of Beverly Ford Rd. and St. James Church Rd. in Culpeper County. Directly across the street is the trailhead for the St. James Church Walking Trail, a one-mile walking tour through the battlefield interspersed with CWPT interpretive signs.

References:

• Brandy Station Battle Culpeper Virginia June Civil War 1863
• Battle of Brandy Station (U.S. National Park Service)

Type of site: Battlefield Address: Beverly Ford Rd. & St. James Church Rd. Rt. 677 & Rt. 676 Brandy Station, VA USA 22714 Admission Charged: No Charge Website: [Web Link] Phone Number: Not listed Driving Directions: Not listed

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