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Thursday, May 13, 2004 - 6;30 p.m. - Shaver's Bookstore
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| Josh Coons, "Battle of Brandy Station" |
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The most hotly contested cavalry engagements of the Civil War, largest mounted battle, and first true cavalry combat fought in North America took place at
The Battle of Brandy Station, Virginia on June 9, 1863. Of the 20,000 troops engaged, 17,000 were cavalrymen. After conducting a grand cavalry review the previous day, Jeb Stuart, commanding
the Confederate cavalry, let his guard down and a pre-dawn attack by Union cavalry surprised his troopers. With fortunes of war repeatedly changing, fighting raged until night fall. Though the
Confederates prevailed at the end of the day, they had achieved a narrow victory at a heavy cost in casualties. Stuart, embarrassed by the surprise attack, experienced strong
criticism from Southern press. Unfortunately for the Southern Cause, the Battle of Brandy Station marked the apogee of Confederate cavalry dominance over its Union adversary.
On the Union side, the battle marked the beginning of the Union cavalry's rise to superiority. For the first time in the war Union cavalry matched the Confederate cavalry
in skill and determination. Historians generally consider the Battle of Brandy Station as the opening engagement of the Gettysburg Campaign. |
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Josh Coons is a Civil War reenactor and Tennessee Valley Civil War Round Table member. |
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| Harper's Weekly, July 4, 1863, depicts the Battle of Brandy Station, Virginia, Page 424, 425. |