Battle of Brandy Station

Battle of Brandy Station. Kilpatrick's Attack. Col. H. Judson Kilpatrick formed his brigade on an open plateau to the southeast of Fleetwood Hill, 900 yards from here. He soon received orders to support Lt. Col. Percy Wyndham's Brigade, now fiercely engaged with Gen. William E. Jones's Brigade on the crest. The Orange and Alexandria Railroad tracks (built on a high bed in 1854) lay between Wyndham and the hill, presenting a steep hurdle. Kilpatrick instructed the 10th New York Cavalry to move forward diagonally toward Fleetwood Hill with the 2nd New York galloping close behind and to its right. As the two regiments traversed the tracks, leading elements of Confederate Gen. Wade Hampton's Brigade counterattacked., When the New Yorkers fell back in confusion, Kilpatrick urgently summoned his remaining regiment, the 1st Maine Calvary. Swinging his saber wildly over his head, Kilpatrick ordered the men of Maine to sweep around the right of the New York regiments and "save the day." With the brigade band striking up a jaunty air, the 1st Maine ascended directly toward this point, and their bold charge cleared Fleetwood of Confederate troopers. As they set off in pursuit from the summit, however, the Maine regiment left Fleetwood Hill behind, open and exposed, and others soon staked a claim to this "famous plateau.", "Men of Maine, you must save the day! Your regiment can do it!" , , Col. H. Judson Kilpatrick, quoted by Capt. Charles W. Ford, 1st Maine Cavalry, USA, "The enemy's charge broke us all to pieces and we lost all organization and sought safety in flight." , , Pvt. John Opie, 6th Virginia Cavalry, CSA