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Chapter 12 Battle of Bristow Station The Army Again on the Soil of Virginia After resting two days at Bunker Hill, the Artillery of the 3rd Corps proceeded with the 1st Corps and the Infantry of the 3rd Corps by way of Winchester and Chester Gap to Culpepper Court House.The Artillery encamped near Cedar Mountain and remained a few days, where I was engaged in writing a report of the Campaign.The wife of our Commanding Officer came up to meet him and stayed at the farm house of Mr. Slaughter. At Bunker Hill, I occupied one side of Col.Walker’s tent. One night a thief cut open the back of the tent and took my clothes,which had been folded and laid near my head,but he must have been frightened off, for I recovered them within fifty yards. So it appears that thieves break through and steal even in an Encampment of an Army. I remember also that a thief stole the dough from our cook one night, who had placed it in an oven to rise. The 1st and 3rd Corps then moved to Orange Court House and were joined by the 2nd Corps about the first week of August, which had to go some distance up the valley, as the route through Chester Gap was occupied by the enemy.We had a good rest at Orange Court House.I met the daughters of Mrs.Bull,who lived there,and rode with Miss Mary to Montpelier, the former residence of President Madison. The enemy occupied Culpepper Court House,about fifteen miles distant , and there were frequent alarms when the troops were called to arms. Our Artillery was encamped on the road to Rapidan Station.At this camp Major Arthur Parker, C. S., reported for duty. Major Miles Seldon, Q. M., was also ordered to report to Colonel Walker, but his orders were revoked.The Army was very much strengthened by the return of wounded and sick soldiers to duty. Battle of Bristow Station 57 About the 10th of October,General Lee determined to strike a blow at the enemy, notwithstanding the fact that the 1st Corps under General Longstreet had left us and gone to reinforce the Army in Georgia commanded by General Bragg.We set out early in the morning and crossed the Rapidan at Liberty Mills and bivouacked. Our Quartermaster , Major Scott, was the son-in-law of Mr. Graves, who lived near that place and invited me to accompany him to make a visit. I did so and found Mrs. Graves a fine old lady, who had known some of my mother’s relatives.We had a good supper and enjoyed the visit, returning to the column early next morning.That day the column reached a place near Sperryville. Everyone has a grain of superstition. I believe I have very little, but I could not help remarking on a flock of black birds some distance on the road to Culpepper Court House, where the column halted,and we heard that the Federal Army having learned of our flanking movement, was retiring towardsWarrentown Junction. Our column started early the next morning and proceeded by a road leading to theWarrentownWhite Sulphur Springs,and bivouacked near the town of Warrenton.The next day we marched to New Baltimore and then turned into a road leading to Bristow Station of the O. and A. R. R. General Heth’s Division was at the head of the column, followed by Anderson’s Division and Wilcox’s Division brought up the rear of the Infantry. Major Macintosh’s Battalion accompanied Heth and the Reserve Battalions followed Wilcox. General Heth found the Fifth Federal Corps, under General G. K. Warren, passing along the side of the railroad and attacked them with two Brigades and McIntosh ’s Batteries.The enemy lined the railroad embankment and, as the two Brigades approached, they received a volley of musketry and the fire of batteries posted on the hill beyond, which broke them and they retreated with severe loss, leaving McIntosh’s Batteries exposed and he lost five of his guns.The Reserve Artillery arrived soon after and I was sent to the front to inform General Hill of its arrival. In going to the front I passed some soldiers who had been killed and soon came to the Division of General Anderson lying in an open field just in rear of the position where McIntosh’s Batteries had been captured. I inquired for...

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