Comte de Paris, History of the Civil War in America. Vol. 3.
Henry Coppee , LL.D., Ed.

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[759] column is rapidly moving. Having arrived within reach of that column, Stuart sends two regiments of Jones' brigade against its left flank. The critical moment has arrived for the Federals: they will have to fight on all sides at the same time. In fact, Fitzhugh Lee is approaching the railway from the south. He has kept on the left with the main body of his division, in the hope of joining Hampton near Culpeper, and thus falls, by chance, on the right of the Federals. One of his brigades, following the direct route, reaches their line of retreat, and, dismounting, it lines with troops a rising ground which lies across the railway. Kilpatrick, whom Pleasonton leaves entirely free in the command of his division, is preparing to confront all these enemies. He has not a moment to lose to fight them separately. He sends the Second New York against Jones' two regiments, which are going to attack his left. This valiant regiment, encountering the Confederate column in a narrow passage, overthrows the first squadron and pushes the others back in the greatest confusion on the remainder of the brigade, behind which they find it hard to rally. Hampton is compelled to halt. But in that instant Fitzhugh Lee's guns open fire on the right flank of Kilpatrick. The latter, instead of answering, leaves before them a few regiments in close line, and directs his artillery to continue moving with the remainder of the division. The object is, in fact, not to give a pitched battle, but to reach Brandy Station as promptly as possible. The Federals thus approach the position of the enemy's force which obstructs their way. Kilpatrick has deployed his two brigades in line of regiments in columns of squadrons—Davies on the right, Custer on the left, holding his flag in his own hand. The charge is sounded. Three thousand sabres are glittering in the sun, but the Federals find no enemy before them. The Confederate brigade, feeling that it could not resist them, has gone aside to leave the passage free. However, Hampton and Lee are pushing before them the Union rearguard and endeavoring again to surround Kilpatrick. Buford fortunately comes, in his turn, to take part in the battle, which, thus engaged on all sides at the same time, becomes a real melee. Clouds of dust soon envelop the combatants. Gordon's and Young's brigades are pressing the Federals on the north of