sage sent by their flags:
"I am at James City. J. E. B. S." Thus it was known that Stuart was
making for our rear, and as long trains of wagons had also been
discovered moving in the direction of James City, it became evident that
Lee was endeavoring to throw his whole army in the rear of our own.
General Meade determined to draw the rebel army back if possible;
accordingly the Sixth and First corps were ordered to build extensive
fires and be in readiness to march at a moment's notice. On the
following morning, Buford, with a division of cavalry, appeared at
Germania Ford, some twelve miles below us, while our infantry advanced
as though about to cross at Raccoon Ford and the fords in front of the
Sixth corps. The ruse of threatening to cross the river by the two
corps, succeeded in calling the rebel infantry back to check our
advance; and at night, after building large fires, the two corps hastily
withdrew toward Culpepper, which we reached at daylight, after a severe
march. After a brief halt for breakfast, the corps, with the whole of
the infantry, was on its way toward Brandy Station, leaving the cavalry
force under Pleasanton to cover the retreat. A rapid march, in which the
army moved in several parallel columns, brought the infantry all safe
across the Rappahannock at Rappahannock Station. But the cavalry were
not allowed to retreat without some hard fighting. Their guns could be
heard by us during the afternoon, and toward evening the firing became
more rapid and nearer. Indeed, the rebels advanced almost to the banks
of the river.

Gregg, with a brigade of cavalry, was overtaken by a considerable force
of the enemy, near Jefferson, early in the day, and after a severe
engagement of two hours, fell back, crossing the river at Sulphur
Springs.

Kilpatrick with his brigade, following the trail of the infantry, and
designing to form a union with Gregg, found, on passing Brandy Station,
that his way was blocked by a whole division of rebel cavalry, which had
slipped in between him and the rear of the infantry. Halting for a
moment to take a single glance at the situation of affairs, the dashing
general shouted to his men, "Boys, there are the cusses!" Then,
springing to the head of the column, he led his men to such a charge as
has rarely been witnessed even in our cavalry service.

The road was strongly guarded by three regiments of cavalry in solid
column, flanked on either side by a regiment in line. Directly