June 9th, 1863 - The Battle of Brandy Station

Conflict: American Civil War

Combatants: Confederates vs. Federals

Location: Virginia (USA)

Outcome: Confederate victory

On June 9th of 1863, Federal horseman under command of General Alfred Pleasanton surprised the Confederate cavalry of General J.E.B. Stuart near Brandy Station. The largest cavalry engagement in American history then ensued. After several hours of charge and counter-charge, Pleasanton withdrew his troops in the face of Confederate infantry reinforcements. The Federals suffered 936 casualties and the Confederates a little over half as many.

Cavalry Charge Near Brandy Station by Edwin Forbes

Points of Interest:

• With 21,000 troopers engaged, Brandy Station was the largest cavalry battle in American history.

• Although victorious, Stuart was criticized by Confederate officers for being caught by surprise.

J.E.B. Stuart, C.S.A by an unknown photographer

General Alfred Pleasanton by Mathew Brady

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Sources:

Bowman, John S. (Ed.) (1983). The Civil War Almanac. New York: World Almanac.

Catton, Bruce (1955). This Hallowed Ground. Kingsport, Tennessee: Kingsport Press, Inc.

Dupuy, Trevor N., Johnson, Curt, & Bongard, David L. (1992). The Harper's Encyclopedia of Military Biography. New York: Castle Books (HarperCollins).

Dupuy, R. Ernest & Dupuy, Trevor N. (1993). The Harper's Encyclopedia of Military History. New York: HarperCollins.

Eggenberger, David (1985). An Encyclopedia of Battles: Accounts of Over 1,560 Battles from 1479 B.C. to the Present. New York: Dover Publications, Inc.

Hogue, James M. & McPherson, James M. (2009). Ordeal By Fire. New York: MaGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Long, E.B & Long, Barbara (1971). The Civil War Day by Day: An Almanac 1861-1865. New York: De Capo Press, Inc.