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THE , 1863

The Fight at Fleetwood Hill. By Neil Smith Perry Miniatures February 22nd, 1863 was a bad day for Fightin’ Joe Hooker, Confederate commanding the Army of the Potomac. Despite reorganizing the Union cavalry into a single corps under the command of Major- General , Hooker’s cavalry could not seemingly contend with 400 Virginia troopers under Brigadier-General , the nephew of Robert E. Lee, who strolled across Kelly’s Ford and through the snow to within a few miles of Hooker’s headquarters before strolling back again with the Union cavalry tangled up in knots trying to stop him. Hooker ordered a response; so, on St. Patrick’s Day a division of 4,000 Union cavalrymen under General William Averell launched an assault against the Rebels, resulting in the engagement at Kelly’s Ford (see WI249). The Union cavalry did well enough to hold back Lee’s counter-charges, but Averell did not press matters when victory was clearly in sight. The opening moves of the 1863 cavalry war had been a draw, but Hooker was determined to make his new cavalry work.

Hooker got another chance to see what Why wouldn’t he be? Stuart was the Buford’s division, would cross at Beverly his cavalry could do in April. He had epitome of the valiant Confederate Ford. Buford would head straight for the drawn up imaginative plans to cross the cavalier who had risen to instant acclaim small village of Brandy Station, while Rappahannock and Rapidan rivers to hit by riding completely around the Army of Gregg took the more circuitous route to Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern the Potomac the previous year, and his Stevensburg, then north to join the Virginia in the flank, and he would send exploits were becoming the stuff of command. Once combined at Brandy Stoneman with 8,000 troopers behind legend. He had his approximately 10,000 Station, the Union force would push Lee to cause chaos. Stoneman carried out troopers stationed at Culpeper Court forward down the line of the Orange & his orders well, perhaps too well because House in June 1863 to take advantage of Alexandria railroad to Culpeper Court while he was sending his units in all the grazing and to shield Lee’s House and defeat Stuart. What Pleasonton directions, including to the gates of movements to the north. However bold could not know was the disposition of the Richmond itself, and causing the required Stuart might be, though, he was no fool. Confederate forces who were not at headaches to the Confederates, Hooker’s After Kelly’s Ford in March and Culpeper but spread around the gulleys army was being out-foxed by Lee and Stoneman’s Raid, Stuart made a tactical and high ground mostly between the fords ‘Stonewall’ Jackson in Virginia’s change so that at least one regiment was and Brandy Station. In the wee hours of 9 wilderness around Chancellorsville. The mounted before dawn every morning in June, Pleasonton’s force crept forward, Army of the Potomac was soundly, if not case the Yankees came calling. He also maintaining almost complete silence, decisively, beaten and limped back across set a tripwire defense along the down to the fords and across the river. the Rappahannock to lick its wounds. Rappahannock Fords to alert the army of Hooker was not of a mind to forgive any danger. In the meantime, his horses Stoneman for not attacking Lee in the grazed and his men relaxed at Culpeper, rear or coming to help his army in any though not without putting on three grand way, and replaced him with the self- reviews from June 5 - 8 for the high aggrandizing Brigadier-General Alfred command and the ladies of the town. If Pleasonton. By June, the Army of the Stuart expected the events of 9 June, Potomac was ready to fight again, or so however, it did not show as he bedded thought Hooker. It was also time to find down on the eve of what would be his Lee’s army that had moved out of its greatest test to date. positions to prepare for an invasion of , but to do so Pleasonton PLEASONTON’S PLAN would have to penetrate JEB Stuart’s Confederate cavalry screen. That would Pleasonton’s orders from Hooker were prove easier said than done. simple, search out Stuart’s cavalry at Culpeper and destroy them. His first task Major-General James Ewell Brown was to get his troopers with some infantry Stuart, on the other hand, was enjoying and artillery support, numbering around himself immeasurably in the grassy fields 8,000 in two wings, across the around Culpeper, Virginia. With the loss Rappahannock. He designated Brigadier- of Stonewall Jackson to friendly fire at General David Gregg to take his division Chancellorsville, Stuart was arguably the out to the left and cross at Kelly’s Ford, most famous warrior in the Confederacy. while he, with Brigadier-General John

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THE BATTLE OF BRANDY STATION, 1863 1861-1865 1861-1865 American War Civil Map taken from Osprey Publishing Brandy Station 1863 - Campaign 201 www.ospreypublishing.com Osprey Map taken from

BUFORD’S CROSSING fired on the 8th cavalrymen The first significant unit the Union emerging from the woods by the ford. troopers met was the much vaunted Stuart had no pickets on the north bank Another alarm was sent down the line to Confederate horse artillery of Major of the Rappahannock, but he had two Jones’s brigade camped on the ground Robert F. Beckham, inexplicably camped men on the south bank who heard the between the Gee House and St. James about one-mile-and-a-half from Beverly Union cavalry coming. They discharged Church, and to Stuart’s command post Ford with nothing between them and the their revolvers and skeedadled back to further back towards Brandy Station. advancing Union troopers. Fortunately the picket reserve of about thirty 6th for the sleeping artillerymen, the Union Virginia troopers of Brigadier-General The Union cavalrymen deployed in troopers did not grasp what they were William “Grumble” Jones’s command. column on either side of the Beverly Ford looking at from 300 yards, so, assuming The small band of rebels spread out and Road and began to advance. the men to their front were more than

Below: Confederate twelve-pounder Napoleon cannon atop Fleetwood Hill and Major McClellan standing next to it

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dozy and unsupported cannoneers, the troopers opened fire. The carbine alarm- clock worked wonders for the artillerymen who burst into a frenzy of activity, harnessing horses and limbering cannons to get out, while one cannon opened fire with canister. Help arrived in the nick of time in the shape of contingents from the 6th and 7th Virginia cavalry, many of them only half dressed for the occasion. In the ensuing melee, the commander of the Union 1st Brigade, Benjamin “Grimes” Davis was killed, forcing Colonel Thomas Davis to take command and disorganizing temporarily the Union cavalry. That gave time for the Confederates to withdraw to a ridge line 1000 yards to the rear. Perry Miniatures Union cavalry The Confederates took up positions on a low-lying ridge anchored by the Gee Stevensburg to secure his flank while he on this looping march with no more House and St. James’ Church. The gun cut north up the Fredericksburg Plank alacrity than he had getting to line along the ridge had excellent fields Road short of the village to link up to the Stevensburg. By this time, the fighting of fire across open ground and covering right wing at Brandy Station. Gregg’s north of Brandy Station had intensified. the two roads leading to Brandy Station. detachment would turn out to be Colonel When the Union cavalry arrived through Alfred Duffie’s entire 2nd Division. But, BUFORD’S FLANK ATTACK the woods onto the St. James’ plateau, they had yet to come up, and by the time artillery fire brought them up short; then his division started their advance to Buford’s flank attack was not going the rebel cavalry hit them from two sides. Stevensburg, the left wing was three according to plan either. His idea was to The resulting melee was a tumult of hours behind schedule and an take his division down Yew Ridge around flashing peppered with smoke increasingly anxious Gregg could hear the Confederate left, but problems set in from discharged small weapons before the battle being fought by the right wing almost immediately. After their exertions the Confederates broke off to deploy a few miles to the north. in the morning charge, the 6th alongside their guns. The 6th Pennsylvania had been assigned to Pennsylvania and 6th US Cavalry may Duffie’s column plodded along towards protect the rear of the Union right wing, have thought that the battle was almost Stevensburg while advanced elements and they took up positions along a stone over and launched a textbook charge under Major Benjamin Stanhope rode off wall on the Cunningham Farm about a across the open ground into the teeth of to secure the town and access to the Old mile from Beverly Ford. Unfortunately, the Confederate artillery. They came back Carolina Road leading north towards the 10th and 13th Virginia cavalry across the field badly chewed and the Brandy Station. Stanhope met no regiments also wanted that wall and their reformed rebel cavalry helped them on opposition in town, but as he pushed intense fire persuaded the Pennsylvanians their way. The situation at the St. James north he could see a column of to relinquish possession. Buford would plateau was stalemated with neither side Confederate cavalry coming south to now have to overcome an obstacle that able to exert a decisive influence across meet him. Stanhope retreated quickly should have been a stepping-stone. He the no-man’s-land between them. Buford back into town where he received orders had also run into the brigade of and his 2nd Brigade commander, Colonel to hold at all costs. The Confederates had Brigadier-General William “Rooney” Lee , met to discuss the been sent down by Stuart to monitor the who had been camped out on that flank situation and it was agreed that Buford situation and hold up any Union advance. overnight, and was advancing to the ford would try and force the Confederate They were hopelessly outnumbered, and to the sound of the guns just as position with an attack around the rebels’ however, and after a brief but vicious Buford was massing his cavalry for his left flank, but both wondered what had fight near Stevensburg they scattered to flank attack. Now, if Buford was to become of Gregg’s Division, crossing at the winds and out of the fight. Duffie succeed, he would have to go through Kelly’s Ford. turned north on the Old Carolina Road. over 2,000 veteran Confederate cavalrymen occupying terrain that GREGG’S CROSSING One-hundred-and-ninety South favoured the defence, including that Carolinians under Colonel Matthew pesky stone wall. By 10am, Buford was If everything had gone according to Butler dismounted across the road on the stalled and had to call up infantry support Pleasonton’s plan, Gregg’s Division Hansbrough ridge to square off against to push the rebels away from the wall. would have crossed Kelly’s Ford, Duffie’s 1,500 Union cavalrymen. Their They did so through stealth and surprise, brushed aside any opposition, and hit the Enfield rifles outranged the Union but Lee had already set up a defensive Confederates in the rear, relieving the carbines and the Union advance was line on the ridge to the rear of the wall. pressure to his front and trapping Stuart’s stalled, but they could not hold and after Before Buford could organize an cavalry in a vice – if everything went to Butler lost his foot to an artillery round effective assault, however, he was plan that is… his subordinate Major Lipscomb took surprised to see Lee’s men mounting up charge and withdrew the hard-pressed and retiring to the rear. The hard-pressed Initially, there seemed to be little regiment. The road to Brandy Station was Devin saw the same thing to his front. difficulty for Gregg. His men had open. At just that moment, a courier from captured the ford by dawn and his Gregg ordered Duffie to retrace his steps Buford advanced cautiously for the next troopers were crossing with no to the Kelly’s Ford Road and follow four hours against the Confederate opposition. The plan then called for Gregg to Brandy Station. Duffie set off rearguard who held him at bay, then Gregg to send a detachment down to

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received a shock when Lee’s Brigade the hill and the town; the Old Carolina signal station contingent, a single launched a surprise counter-attack, Road exits the town and runs over the artillery piece, and Stuart’s adjutant- leading to a prolonged melee and forcing crest of the hill past the Miller House general Major Henry B. McClellan, first the Union men back in some disorder – that marks the summit. The Orange & cousin to George B. McClellan a former Lee was badly wounded in the fighting, Alexandria railroad delineates the commander of the Army of the Potomac - his successor was killed, and the counter- southern edge of the hill and heavy an ample illustration of how insular this attack faltered. Buford fell back to woods lie to the south of the railroad civil war could be. Cunningham Ridge where a second (see map below). Whoever controlled shock awaited; an order to fall back to Fleetwood Hill would control the town At 10:30am, a breathless rider reported to Beverly Ford from Pleasonton: the battle of Brandy Station and its environs. McClellan that Union troops were on the was over and the Union cavalry corps way from the south with nothing between was re-crossing the Rappahannock. At the beginning of the battle, Stuart had them and Fleetwood Hill. McClellan Buford’s heavy moustache must have moved out of positions around Fleetwood could soon see for himself a blue-coated bristled when he found out why. Hill to the northwestern Gee House - St. column emerging from the nearby woods. James Church line. Rooney Lee was off He reacted quickly, sending a courier to THE FIGHT AT FLEETWOOD HILL to the north, preventing Union access Stuart to inform him of this new peril just from that direction, and to the south a mile to the rear of Stuart’s position, and Fleetwood Hill sits like a shallow Stuart had sent out a few units to monitor pulling the cannon to the crest of the hill overturned soup bowl immediately to the situation there and to prevent any adjacent to the Miller House. The twelve- the northwest of Brandy Station. A Union force coming up into his rear. All pounder Napoleon quickly opened fire on small creek, Flat Run, flows between that remained on the hill was a small the Union column.

BARBOUR HOUSE Map taken from Osprey Publishing Brandy Station 1863 - Campaign 201 www.ospreypublishing.com

FLAT RUN

9 FLEETWOOD HILL 10 11 B OLD CAROLINA ROAD C MILLER HOUSE 4 BRANDY STATION 1 2 3 A

ORANGE & ALEXANDRIA 5 CARRICOʼS MILL ROAD RAILROAD G 6 12

CONFEDERATE FORCES

Elements of Jones'Brigade: 7 N 12th Virginia Cavalry Regiment 1 D 35th Virginia Cavalry Battalion 8 2 H 3 6th Virginia Cavalry Regiment E 4 11th Virginia Cavalry Regiment F Elements of Hampton's Brigade: 5 Cobb's Legion, Georgia Cavalry Regiment 1 st South Carolina Cavalry Regiment 6 UNION FORCES 7 1 st North Carolina Cavalry Regiment 8 Jeff Davis Legion, Mississippi Cavalry Wyndhamʼs 2nd Brigade: Regiment A 1 st Maryland Cavalry Regiment B 1st New Jersey Cavalry Regiment Elements of Beckham's Battalion of Horse C 1 st Pennsylvania Cavalry Regiment Artillery (the Stuart Horse Artillery) Kilpatrick's 1st Brigade: Chew's Virginia Battery (The Ashby Artillery) 9 D 10th New York Cavalry Regiment McGregor's Virginia Battery (2nd Stuart 10 E 2nd New York Cavalry Regiment Horse Artillery) F 1st Maine Cavalry Regiment 11 Moorman's Virginia Battery (The Lynchburg Artillery or Beauregard Rifles) Martin's Battery, 6th New York Independent Battery 12 Hart's South Carolina Battery (The G Sections 1 and 2 Washington Artillery) H Section 3 Below: Union Cavalry dismount and take cover. Perry Miniatures

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Jone’s Brigade: Brigadier-General work conducted by the Brandy Station William “Grumble” Jones (1,600) Foundation and the Civil War 12th Va - 400 Battlefields Trust who have wrestled 35th Va - 400 away much of the battlefield from the 6th Va - 400 claws of the ever rapacious developers 11th Va - 400 who scour the north Virginia countryside and have yet to see a Hampton’s Brigade: green field that cannot be despoiled. If Brigadier-General Wade Hampton not for the Brandy Station Foundation, Cobb’s Legion - 492 this important field would be a 1st South Carolina - 519 Formula I race-track. Please visit their 2nd South Carolina - 405 website at: Jeff Davis Legion – 339 BRANDY STATION www.brandystationfoundation.com Stuart’s Horse Artillery: Major Robert FOUNDATION: and help them in their continued fight Beckham (16 x 6pdr cannon) While researching the Battle of for Brandy Station. Chew’s Virginia Battery Brandy Station, I had the privilege of McGregor’s Virginia Battery walking the fields where those brave [Editors note: Wargames Illustrated Moorman’s Virginia Battery cavalrymen fought. I could do so has made a donation towards the Hart’s South Carolina Battery because of the sterling preservation Brandy Station Foundation] The action begins at 10:30am with Wyndham’s Brigade and supporting horse artillery coming on to the table in SCENARIO: 3rd Cavalry Division: column up Carrico Mill’s Road THE FIGHT AT FLEETWOOD HILL Brigadier-General David Gregg immediately to the south of Brandy Strength 2,170 Station. The Confederate cannon is You will command either the Confederate deployed ready to fire. or Union forces fighting for control over 1st Brigade, 3rd Division: Colonel Hugh Fleetwood Hill. Your mission is to be in Judson Kilpatrick (1,000 approx) The Union player on receiving fire from possession of the hill at the end of the 10th NY - 333 the cannon must roll a D6 with anything day’s fighting. The map on the previous 2nd NY - 333 other than a 6 requiring him to fully page depicts the terrain over which you 1st Maine - 333 deploy Wyndham’s Brigade and horse will fight. artillery before advancing. A score of 6 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division: Colonel Percy will allow Wyndham to continue his The scenario begins with one Wyndham (1,000 approx) progress if he so desires. Confederate twelve-pounder Napoleon 1st Maryland - 333 cannon atop Fleetwood Hill and Major 1st New Jersey - 333 All other units roll a D6 for each brigade McClellan standing next to it. All other 1st Pennsylvania - 333 racing to the battlefield. A throw of 6 forces begin the game off-table. allows that brigade to enter the table in Artillery: column. A +1 modifier is added to the Forces (assume all are cavalry unless 6th NY Independent Battery, 3 sections roll for every subsequent turn in the game otherwise noted): (6x3'' Rifles) until all units are on the table and available to the players. Union: Confederate: Only the divisional strength of the Union Similar problems exist for ascertaining Kilpatrick’s Union forces (the only Union forces is available, but it appears that the size of individual Confederate units, force off-table at the beginning of the both Wyndham and Kilpatrick had but some numbers do exist. Assume, game) must enter from the southern edge approximately equivalent forces then, Hampton’s Brigade is distributed of the table at a point of the Union available to them. The artillery section equally with 400 men in each regiment, player’s choosing – although this can be usually consisted of two cannons, and that each horse-artillery battery has randomized by marking the table edge probably of 3'' Rifles. 4 x 6 pounder cannons. into six entry points and rolling a D6 for the entry point to be used. Below: Dismounted Union cavalry fire on the advancing Rebels. Perry Miniatures Confederate forces can deploy from anywhere on the northern table edge or the western edge north of the Orange & Alexandria railroad.

On entering the field, Kilpatrick’s force must make directly for the crest of the hill and can only change orders if Confederate forces are within 18'' of any of Kilpatrick’s regiments.

Commander Ratings: All Confederate commanders are above average, with Hampton rated as superior.

Wyndham is average and Kilpatrick is rated as below average and reckless.

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Above: The two forces clash. Perry Miniatures plastic cavalry

Other Playing Options: Maine, did better. They avoided the flank Stuart’s cavalry, although he later This scenario can be played easily as a assault and continued up the hill, scattering claimed those were not his orders, and solo game with units entering on a the 6th Virginia when they got there. The Stuart’s detractors, led by the Richmond randomized basis. Alternatively, men from Maine next over-ran the rebel press corps, blamed him for being Fleetwood Hill might suit a multi-player artillery deployed on the northern edge of surprised by the Union assault. Stuart, in game with each player taking the role of a Fleetwood Hill. Their job done and their particular, was most peeved by the brigade or even regimental commander. horses blown, the 1st Maine exited the hill accusations and that may have The multi-player option might suit a club and began to withdraw towards Brandy contributed to his decision to attempt game better where few members might Station – in the process of doing so, they another ride-around of the in have all the cavalry needed, but six players missed the chance to capture Robert E. the coming invasion of Pennsylvania, can paint up a regiment or two and roll Lee who was in the nearby Barbour House leaving Lee “blind” in the process. them out for some hard cavalry fightin’. watching the fight unfold. Maybe it could be argued, then, that the Union attack at Brandy Station was BUFORD’S ANSWER Fresh Confederates arrived in the shape of successful if measured by the the 11th Virginia. They careered over the consequences. The more immediate The Union assault on Fleetwood Hill did hill down the Old Carolina Road, crashing benefit to the Union cavalry seems to not go well. On receiving artillery fire through the Union artillery and sweeping have been a boost in morale and an from the crest of the hill, Wyndham grew up the Maine stragglers. Wyndham’s men increase in self-belief that they could cautious and deployed his cavalry into fell back to the town in the face of the stand toe-to-toe with the Confederate line. He also waited for his supporting Southern fury. Also arriving on the scene cavalry. What is certain is that the Union artillery to come up. When all was ready, were Hampton’s 1st North Carolina and cavalry would continue to act Wyndham’s troopers began their ascent Mississippi’s Jeff Davis Legion. They tore aggressively for the rest of the war; with the 1st Maryland in the vanguard. into Kilpatrick’s New Yorkers attempting Hooker, who was removed from Wyndham’s delay allowed for the to reform on the southern edge of the hill. command not long afterwards, could Confederates to bring up reinforcements. Hampton’s troopers kept going to join the have been proud of that if nothing else. As the Marylanders crested the ridge, the assault on Brandy Station, but were 35th and 6th Virginia ploughed into them, prevented from doing so by errant causing an hour long pell-mell skirmish Confederate artillery fire. References: that spread across the hill. Dan Beattie, Brandy Station 1863 The Confederate cavalrymen had done (Osprey2008) Wyndham’s Brigade was on the cusp of their job, however, and Fleetwood Hill, Joseph Glatthaar, General Lee’s Army defeat when Kilpatrick arrived out of the and Stuart’s rear, was secured. The (Free Press, 2008) woods with his three regiments. thoroughly beaten Union men had little Joseph W. McKinnney, Brandy Station, Virginia, June 9, 1863: The Largest Cavalry Battle of the choice but to find their way back to Civil War (McFarland & Company Inc. 2006) Kilpatrick appears to have had only one Kelly’s Ford. With Buford’s Division Stephen Sears, Gettysburg (Mariner, 2004) fighting style, straightforward attack, and stalled and the Kelly Ford attack stifled, he sent his regiments in echelon up the Pleasonton felt he had little choice but to Carl Smith, Gettysburg 1863 (Osprey1998) southern slope. The 10th and 2nd New try and get his men back across the Jeffrey D. Wert, The Sword of Lincoln York were caught in the open, however, by Rappahannock intact. (Simon & Schuster, 2006) Cobb’s Legion and the 1st South Carolina Thanks: who crashed into the Yankees’ flank. The The recriminations would follow on both Thanks to Alan Perry for the loan of his figures third of Kilpatrick’s regiments, the 1st sides. Pleasonton had not destroyed for the photos. www.perry-miniatures.com

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