The Battle of Brand Station

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/3/2015

War dated Confederate soldier’s letter written by John S. Harnsberger (signed JSH), enlisted March 29, 1862 into Company F., Virginia 12th Cavalry, June 11, 1863, Camp near Brandy Station. 4pp., In part, “No doubt before this reaches you, some wild & mischievous visions will have reached you ears. .. we have about 10,000 Cav in Culpepper. ..By some means unknown ... they got in our rear & paid their respects ... Both Cavalry and Artillery in our rear-on our right Yankees as far as I could see - soon they appeared everywhere. Such cutting & stabbing you never saw ... Soon WH Lee, Fitz Lee & Robertson’s Brigrades were were brought into play. The Yankees were routed & artillery captured. They loss several Capts and Lieuts. We lost 3 Cols and 3 Capts and some Lieuts.Our reg lost six killed & 20 wounded. .. I am sorry to tell you that while I escaped unhurt, Old Tom was hit in the breast by a Sharps & in the left leg by a buck shot which went through. He is till upon the battle field. ... Gen’l lee, Ewell, Longstreet are here .. we captured 600 men. ... You find enclosed a ladies photograph taken from a Yankee’s Colonel’s pocket. He had a fine gold watch ...” The Battle of Brandy Station, was the largest predominantly cavalry engagement of the War. It was fought on June 9, 1863, around Brandy Station, Virginia, at the beginning of the Gettysburg Campaign by the Union cavalry under Maj. Gen. Alfred Pleasonton against Maj. Gen. J.E.B. Stuart's Confederate cavalry.

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