THE TWELTH VIRGINIA REGIMENT IN THE FIGHT NEAR BRANDY STATION

A correspondent of the Petersburg Express gives the following narrative of the part borne by the 12th Virginia Regiment in the recent fight near Brandy Station:

We had been camped just a week on a hill half a mile north of Culpeper C.H. and were beginning to think General Lee was disposed to let Meade get to Fredericksburg ahead of him without a fight or a foot race when about mid-day of Saturday last, the 1st inst., the sound of cannon in the direction of Brandy Station where the Orange and Alexandria Railroad crosses the north branch of the Rappahannock, broke upon the stillness of the sultry day, and greatly accelerated sundry prandial preparations in every quarter of the camp. Hours passed by, the "bull and putty" were disposed of, smokers were extending themselves in every shade, and divers execrations of the tardiness of the mails were breaking the monotony of conversation when General Anderson's courier rushed frantically into camp, and in a few moments the 12th was under arms with the rest of the brigade and in motion for the direction of the firing.

It was now about half past four and hot enough to satisfy the penchant of a first class salamandar, but the continued increase in the nearness and frequency of the shot (the smoke from which we could distinctly see) suggested the necessity of speed and we stepped out with a will, the Twelth in front. We had not gone a mile before an orderly from Gen. stuart galloped up to Gen. Anderson, informing him that the enemy were at hand, and pressing the cavalry so, that the infantry must be hurried up. Double quick was now ordered and off we trotted. In a quarter of an hour we arrived at the edge of a wood, and were deployed in line of battle.

The exigency was so great that although it was not the turn of our Regiment to do the skirmishing, we had to be thrown in, being in advance, and we scattered ourselves along the edge of a thick, tangled wood, through which we advanced as rapidly as the obstructions permitted. We soon emerged at the other side on the edge of a plain, about 500 yards across, on the further extremity of which tye Yankee cavalry, a long line of dismounted troops acting as infantry, and two pieces of artillery, stood ready to give us welcome. Gen. Stuart rode up, and taking command of the line of skirmishers, comprising the 12th Mississippi and the 12th Virginia, gave the order to charge the enemy. With a genuine Confederate yell -- a most distinct thing be it known to you, from a Yankee cheer -- the boys started off, two pieces of Stuart's light artillery following us.

Then began the most beautiful chase I ever witnessed. Whenever the crest of a hill gave the Yankees advantage of position, the gentry would halt from their line and pour in a fire of artillery and infantry until we got too close upon them, when they would "limber up," scamper incontinent,ly down the farther slope to renew the same performance whenever and whereever the confiuration of the country gave them "the position>' Luckily for us, we kept too close upon them to allow them much time for deliberate aiming, and their shot both from cannon and small arms flew very wide in the main. Thus up hill and down dale for four mileds without one step backward or one moment's halt, except to take breath or to take advantage of the ground, across the magnificent plain on which Jeb held his great cavalry review last year, through corn fields and bogs, and athwart branches and fences, the chase was kept up till in the deepening twilight we drove them from their last stand at Brandy Station, firing our last shot on the plantation of John Minor Botts, and sending the reprobates flying at a speed which defied the efforts of infantry.

Altogether it was a most successful affair, and Gen. Stuart, who remained with us all the time, was pleased to express his approbation of the 12th in very decided terms. Calling a passing officer, he asked what brigade we belonged to, and on being informed it was Mahone's, desired the officer to express to General Mahone his"unqualified admiration of the conduct of his men and to tell him that he had never been supported better in his life."

Our casualties you have already heard. The worst is that of poor Branch, who having passed through every engagement of the war in which the regiment had been without a scartch, fell in the beginning of the skirmish, pierced through the right breast. I shook his hand as we moved by, expressing my hope that he would recover, but he replied, "No -- I am a goner, I fear." In a half hour he was a corpse. He was a gallant and efficient officer.

Another letter from the same writer, dated near Orange C.H., 5th inst. gives the following summary of the events of the day:

The fighting had been raging pretty heavy from 11 in the forenoon until about 3 in the afternoon between a portion of Stuart's cavalry and a large force of the enemy, at which time Stuart having been too heavily pressed by numbers had fallen back to within three quarters of a mile of the Courthouse, and Anderson's division of infantry was double quicked to his support, Mahone's and Posey's brigades being deployed in line of battle just above town, commenced driving the enemy back, the 12th Virginia and one of Posey's regiments being sent forward as skirmishers, steadily and swiftly in concert with our cavalry, drove the enemy beyond Brandy Station, a distance of some five or six miles, and never, during the time, did our infantry falter for an instant; to the contrary, Gen. Stuart sent word back to the commanding officer that they had proved the best infantry support that he had ever had. After nightfall our infantry fell back and encamped near the Courthouse.

It was during this pursuit of the enemy that the gallant Capt. Branch of the Richmond Greys fell mortally wounded, he living only some half hour afterwards. His untimely death caused universal sadness throughout the regiment, for as an officer and a soldier all acknowledged his high qualifications, he having been with the regiment and nobly doing his duty in every engagement in which it has participated, while as a main he was universally esteemed and beloeved by all. The regiment has lost in him one of its most valued members, while his company has sustained a loss that cannot easily be replaced. only six of the regiment were wounded, but you already have their names.

Two of our regiment, Wm. Nichols and Co. A and Jos. Brownley of Co. C while in the advance as volunteer scouts, came upon five of the enemy's cavalry and by a bold ruse succeeded in capturing four of the party, a Sergeant and three privates, a Lieutenant making good his excape by flight. When the two got within some fifteen steps of the party, two of them levelled their pieces in return and at the same time hallooing to an imaginary party behind them to "come on, boys;" the enemy supposing that a large party was about to dash down upon them, immediately surrendered, and the four, with the horses and accoutrements, were immediately marched back to the rear by the two exultant scouts.

Richmond Whig

Aug. 12, 1863

p. 2 col. 3 GEN. J.E.B. STUART

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Camp ---

Army of Northern Virginia

August 14, 1863

To the Editor of the Whig:

A good deal of surprise has been felt here at an item of news in your paper a day or two ago to the effect that Gen. Hood was to be appointed Lieut. General , and placed in command of "all the cavalry of the Army of Northern Virginia,." Did it occur to anybody that if this is true, Gen. Stuart is thrown overboard and a bitter censure on his conduct pronounced? I have a high respect for Gen. Hood, but I have no hesitation in saying that his appointment as Lieutenenat General, and assignment to the command of the cavalry of this army would be regarded as an outrage which no ability on his part could atone for.

Gen. Stuart, by the common testimony of officers and privates -- with the exception of a few who have grounds of personal dislike for leave of absence refused, &c., &c. -- is a commander of incomparable excellence in his arm of the service, and his services have been so great that to put this slight upon him would be regarded as unpardonable, not only by his comrades of the army, but by the whole country. After dedicating his days, his nights, his brain and arm and whole mind and sould to the cause of the South from the moment when our small force first confronted the enemy in the Valley in April '61 -- after fighting in every battle of the war on Virginia soil, and winning for himself the distinction of being the first cavalry officer of the contest -- after succeeding everywhere, failing nowhere -- to be superseded, virtually censured -- for an officer in another arm of the service, whom he ranks, to be placed over him -- I say this would be nothing less than an outrage, which no friend of the Government will believe it capable of committing. one thing is certain, that Gen. Stuart would not be the loser, for his popularity throghout the whole country is so great, and his invaluable services have given him so firm a hold upon the hearts of the people, that he would be more regarded and respected than ever before. But every true friend of the cause most deprecate such a state of things, arraying as it would a large portions of the community and the army in sentiment at least against the War administration. I can only say again that such an appointment would be regarded by the Cavalry Dikvision, the whole army, and the people of this region as a bitter injustice and outrage against a long tried, faithful and distinguished officer who has toiled with heart and hand for the cause from the very commencement of hostilities, and I do not believe that any such thing is contemplated. One of the vices of the times is the admission into the journals of any "scattering" asscertions of newspaper correspondents -- vague rumors, reports and gossip. Public opinion is sought to be manufactured often by this means and the statements are frequently allowed to do their mischief -- the poison to work -- from the very insignificances of the anonymous source from which it issues.

It is always better however to "take the bull by the horns" on such occasions, and while I do not credit for an instant this rumor, I have written to put on record what is thought of it in this quarter at least.

**

Richmond Whig

Aug. 18, 1863

p. 2 col. 2-3