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CHARGE OF UNION CAVALRY UPON THE CONFEDERATE ADVANCE NEAR BRANDY STATION, AUGUST 20, 1862.
FROM A SKETCH MADE AT TIIE TIME.
is yet, misunderstood because of the false impressions created by thisstatement.
Under the orders heretofore referred to, the concentration of the threecorps of the Army of Virginia (except King’s division of McDowell’s corps)was completed, Sigel’s corps being at Sperryville, Banks ’s at Little Washing-ton, and Ricketts’s division of McDowell’s corps at Waterloo Bridge. Iassumed the command in person July 29th, 1862.
As this paper is mainly concerned with the second battle of Bull Run, Ishall not recount any of the military operations beyond the Rappahannock,nor give any account of the battle of Cedar Mountain [see p. 459] and theskirmishes which followed.
It is only necessary to say that the course of these operations made it plainenough that the Rappahannock was too far to the front, and that the move-ments of Lee were too rapid and those of McClellan too slow to make itpossible, with the small force I had, to hold that line, or to keep open com-munication with Fredericksburg without being turned on my right flank byLee’s whole army and cut off altogether from Washington.
On the 21st of August, being then at Rappahannock Station, my little armyconfronted by nearly the whole force under General Lee, which had compelledthe retreat of McClellan to Harrison’s Landing, I was positively assured thattwo days more would see me largely enough reenforced by the Army of thePotomac to be not only secure, but to assume the offensive against Lee, andI was instructed to hold on “ and fight like the devil.”
I accordingly held on till the 26th of August, when, finding myself to beoutflanked on my right by the main body of Lee’s army, while Jackson’s corps