Author note: with many thanks to LTC Greg Hope, who was instrumental in obtaining a copy of Harrison’s report from the USMA library.

During the battle of Brandy Station, 162 years ago today, the 5^th U.S. Cavalry had a critical task on Brigadier John Buford’s right flank. They seized and then secured a stone fence from Confederate cavalry units under Colonel John Chambliss. This fence was bitterly contested for hours, with the Fifth Cavalry resorting to their pistols after expending all their carbine ammunition.

Captain James E. Harrison commanded the regiment on that day. Only three squadrons were present, under Lieutenants Thomas Maley, Frank Dickerson and Henry Jones. The amount of close quarters fighting is easily determined by the number of troopers captured, listed here as missing in action.  

The regiment, reduced to three squadrons, under the command of Captain Harrison, was under fire until half-past six o’clock p.m., and suffered a loss of thirty-nine officers and men killed, wounded, and missing, and sixty-two horses killed. It is not clear from the monthly return where the missing companies were located.

Captain Harrison’s report, in his own hand, differs slightly from the one printed in the Supplement to the Official Records of the War of the Rebellion.  

“After crossing the river, my regiment consisting of three small squadrons was detailed to support Elder’s Battery and almost immediately after, I was ordered to move forward at a quick gait for the purpose of checking a large force of cavalry that was driving in a small party of our men. I moved forward at a gallop and formed in an open field, preparatory to advancing on them when I received orders to deploy my men as skirmishers and take possession and hold a stone fence about two hundred yards in my front, having detached one squadron under Lt. Maley to support Graham’s Battery. I advanced one squadron under Lt. Dickerson to the stone fence and held the remaining squadron under Lt. Jones as a support to the skirmishers. I held my position until my ammunition was entirely expended when after having been relieved by two fresh squadrons. I retired and acted as a support to a section of Graham’s Battery during the rest of the day. At 6.30 I received orders to recross the river. I beg leave to recommend to the General Commanding Lieuts. Dickerson, Urban, Jones, Baden, Moylan, Brophy, Henly & Hastings whose conduct for gallantry and intrepid bravery while skirmishing with the enemy under a terrible fire of artillery & sharpshooters was most conspicuous. Lieuts. Dickerson & Urban were each wounded, the former in the head & the latter in the upper thigh, neither of them seriously, the rest of my casualties were (6) men killed and buried on the field, 15 wounded and 15 missing and 62 horses killed and so badly wounded as to make it necessary to leave them on the field. A correct list of casualties giving name & rank has been furnished to Bde HdQrs. “

Casualty reports for the regiment vary widely, but this is the list posted in the regimental monthly returns following the 1863 annual return:

Killed in action:

Lieutenant Otis Tillinghast enlisted George Hozzell into Company F, 5^th U.S. Cavalry on September 3, 1860 in Baltimore, MD. Born in Hesse, Germany, his enlistment documents describe him as 5’10” tall, with brown hair, brown eyes and a fair complexion. He was a 22 year old farmer prior to his enlistment. George was killed in action on June 9, 1863, probably at the stone wall.

Lieutenant Fitzpatrick enlisted Alexander Rayner into Company B, 5^th U.S. U.S. Cavalry on December 11, 1860 in Baltimore, MD. Born in Plymouth, NC, he was also a 22 year old farmer prior to his enlistment. His enlistment documents describe him as 5’7” tall, with hazel eyes, brown hair and a sallow complexion. Alexander was also killed in action on June 9, 1863, probably at the stone wall.

Wounded, by company:

Company A

Sgt John Kane, severely in thigh

Bugler Julius Goldring, severely in ankle

Bugler James Collins, slightly in thigh

Company B

2d Lt Gustavus Urban, severely in thigh

Pvt Henry Connolly, slightly in arm

Pvt William Muckler, slightly in leg

Company C

Sgt Jacob Buck, slightly in shoulder

Pvt Daniel Cimmino, mortally in left breast (died same day)

Pvt Richard Hanlon, severely in left thigh

Company D

2d Lt Frank W. Dickerson, slightly in head

Pvt Joseph Marshall, severely

Company G

Pvt Michael Dougherty, severely in groin

Company I

Pvt Ira R. Bailey, mortally (died of wounds June15th)

Company K

Sgt Anthony Grothern, severely in left shoulder

Pvt John Roach, slightly

Pvt Anthony Spigel, severely in neck

Missing in action, by company:

Company B

Sgt William McClean

Pvt William Breese

Pvt Richard Burke

Pvt Edward Holbrook

Pvt John Kennard

Pvt John McCarthy

Company D

Corp Thomas Wilson, supposed to be wounded

Pvt Charles M. Blair

Pvt Paul Brider

Pvt Dennis Dunn

Pvt Thomas Dunn

Pvt William Hemphill

Company F

Corp Frank Holpin

Pvt John Jones

Company K

Pvt Benjamin Allen

Pvt George Copland

Pvt Edward Fitzgerald

Pvt F.O. Rogenhart

Total loss of horses: 62

Sources

NARA, Regimental Returns, Fifth Cavalry, June 1863

USMA Library, Special Collections, James E. Harrison papers

Price, George. Across the Continent With The Fifth Cavalry. New York: D. Van Nostrand, 1883.