Near Brandy Station in Culpeper County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

The 1863-64 Winter Encampment

The Federal Army of the Potomac Rebuilds

Photographed by Craig Swain, December 22, 2007

1. The 1863-64 Winter Encampment Marker

Inscription.

The 1863-64 Winter Encampment. The Federal Army of the Potomac Rebuilds. , On the night of December 1, 1863, following its unsuccessful advance against Robert E. Lee's Confederate Army of Northern Virginia during the Mine Run Campaign, a cold and tired Army of the Potomac withdrew across the Rapidan River and returned to Culpeper County. , On these fields and throughout most of Culpeper and part of Fauquier Counties, 100,000 Union soldiers set up a massive winter encampment that disrupted the lives of local residents, Union commander Maj. Gen. George G. Meade (right) ordered that the army establish its camps in an enormous oval-shaped configuration. As protection, an outer ring of cavalry pickets stretched around the army, backed up by an inner line of infantry., Supplies from Alexandria, Virginia rolled down the Orange and Alexandria Railroad into Brandy Station, the army's principle supply depot, and to Ingalls Station, 1.2 miles to the north. , The encampment, which lasted from December 1, 1863 to May 4, 1864, was described by one soldier as a time "when the shattered regiments regained form and fair; when the new men learned the ways of the old, and caught the spirit of the organization they had entered... and the new body, thus composed, was to be thrown into one of the most furious campaigns of human history." , "A man could walk for miles and never leave the camps around Brandy Station." , Anonymous Union Solder, "A few weeks ago it was a wilderness; now it is a city of log huts, hardly a tree to be seen." , 126th New York Soldier, Help Preserve Battlefields . call CWPT at 1-888-606-1400 . www.civilwar.org . The Hallowell Foundation generously contributed toward the interpretation of this site in memory of Carrington Williams. , This material is based upon work assisted by a grant from the Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Any opinion, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of the Interior.

On the night of December 1, 1863, following its unsuccessful advance against Robert E. Lee's Confederate Army of Northern Virginia during the Mine Run Campaign, a cold and tired Army of the Potomac withdrew across the Rapidan River and returned to Culpeper County.

On these fields and throughout most of Culpeper and part of Fauquier Counties, 100,000 Union soldiers set up a massive winter encampment that disrupted the lives of local residents

Union commander Maj. Gen. George G. Meade (right) ordered that the army establish its camps in an enormous oval-shaped configuration. As protection, an outer ring of cavalry pickets stretched around the army, backed up by an inner line of infantry.

Supplies from Alexandria, Virginia rolled down the Orange and Alexandria Railroad into Brandy Station, the army's principle supply depot, and to Ingalls Station, 1.2 miles to the north.

The encampment, which lasted from December 1, 1863 to May 4, 1864, was described by one soldier as a time "when the shattered regiments regained form and fair; when the new men learned the ways of the old, and caught the spirit of the organization they had entered... and the new body, thus composed, was to be thrown into one of the most furious campaigns of human history."

"A man could walk for miles and never leave the camps
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around Brandy Station."
Anonymous Union Solder

"A few weeks ago it was a wilderness; now it is a city of log huts, hardly a tree to be seen."
126th New York Soldier

Help Preserve Battlefields • call CWPT at 1-888-606-1400 • www.civilwar.org • The Hallowell Foundation generously contributed toward the interpretation of this site in memory of Carrington Williams.
This material is based upon work assisted by a grant from the Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Any opinion, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of the Interior.

Erected by Civil War Preservation Trust.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is May 4, 1864.

Location. Marker has been reported permanently removed. It was located near 38° 31.379′ N, 77° 51.923′ W. Marker was near Brandy Station, Virginia, in Culpeper County. It was at the intersection of Beverly Ford Road (County Route 677) and St. James Church Road (County Route 676), on the left when traveling north on Beverly Ford Road. Located at the first trail stop for the St. James Church

Stop One on the St. James Church Walking Trail image. Click for more information.

Photographed by Craig Swain, December 22, 2007

2. Stop One on the St. James Church Walking Trail

Battle of Brandy Station Virtual Tour by Markers.
A set HMDb markers that document the Battle of Brandy Station, June 9, 1863, and the Winter Encampment of 1863-64. Note the order of appearance is geographic and not chronologically aligned to the battle.
Click for more information.

Walking Trail of the the Battle of Brandy Station. Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: Brandy Station VA 22714, United States of America.

We have been informed that this marker is no longer there and will not be replaced. This page is an archival view of what was.

Regionally, this marker was in the Washington Metropolitan Area

and in Northern Virginia.

It was also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it was in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: Battle of Brandy Station (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); a different marker also named Battle of Brandy Station (about 400 feet away); Lee's Forgotten Warrior (about 800 feet away); a different marker also named Battle of Brandy Station (approx. 0.2 miles away); St. James Episcopal Church (approx. 0.2 miles away); a different marker also named Battle of Brandy Station (approx. ¼ mile away); a different marker also named The 1863-64 Winter Encampment (approx. 0.3 miles away); a different marker also named The Battle of Brandy Station (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Brandy Station.

Other markers no longer nearby. Battle of Brandy Station (was about 500 feet away but has been permanently removed); a different marker also named The Battle of Brandy Station (was approx. 0.2 miles away but has been permanently removed).

More about this marker. On the left is a portrait

The Battle of Brandy Station<br>St. James Church Walking Trail image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Swain

3. The Battle of Brandy Station
St. James Church Walking Trail

Welcome to the Civil War Preservation Trust's Brandy Station Battlefield! The battlefield walking trail is a one-mile path that takes you past four wayside signs interpreting the 1863 fighting at St. James Church and the 1863-64 Winter Encampments. Allow one and one-half hour to walk this trail.

The trail has a mown walking surface; please do not stray from this trail. Beware of ticks and snakes that thrive in the fields surrounding the trail.

Most importantly, please enjoy your time in these beautiful fields and reflect that this experience would have been significantly different if this land had been paved over to build a shopping mall or subdivision. To help CWPT preserve other battlefields like Brandy Station, please call 1-888-606-1400.

This material is based upon work assisted by a grant from the Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Any opinion, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of the Interior.
The Hallowell Foundation generously contributed toward the interpretation of this site in memory of Carrington Williams.
To the left of the text is a map showing the trail stops.

of General Meade. In the center is a photograph of "The 1864 winter headquarters of the Army of the Potomac's commander General George G. Meade located near Brandy Station." On the right a map shows the "Army of the Potomac winter encampments, 1863-64."

Regarding The 1863-64 Winter Encampment. This is one of several markers interpreting the Battle of Brandy Station and the winter encampments of 1863-64 in Culpeper County. See the Battle of Brandy Station Virtual Tour by Markers linkfor additional related markers.

Also see . . . Brandy Station Foundation. Foundation website homepage (Submitted on November 14, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

Credits. This page was last revised on August 2, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 24, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 2,862 times since then and 107 times this year. Last updated on August 2, 2025, by Mike McKeown of Baltimore, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 24, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.