Duel on Yew Ridge by Don Stivers

It began as a dawn foray by Union cavalry to attack the Confederate cavalry in Culpepper County, Virginia. But by sunset of June 9, 1863, the Battle of Brandy Station would become the largest cavalry battle fought on the North American Continent-before or since-and signal the beginning of the Confederate summer campaign that would end in the watershed Battle of Gettysburg. By noon things were getting hot for the Confederates. A Rebel brigadier was skillfully orchestrating a rearguard action, holding off the anxious Union troopers about Yew Ridge while the rest of the brigade and some horse artillery retreated to northern Fleetwood Hill. In the whirling maelstrom a young Yankee captain named Wesley Merritt boldly galloped up to the big officer, and with the point of his saber, demanded his surrender. "His reply was more forcible than courteous," Merritt recalled. The Confederate took a cut at Merritt, sabering his hat off-and nearly taking his head with it. Merritt and his small band retreated. The southerner he had tried unsuccessfully to capture was W.H.F. "Rooney" Lee, son of Robert E. Lee, later to be wounded in the battle. The event was symbolic of the larger Confederate defense of the terrain around Brandy Station: "Rooney" Lee holding the Confederate left-trading blood for time-while "Jeb" Stuart reorganized his cavalry on Fleetwood Hill. It was symbolic as well of cavalry fighting of the era, which may have looked like massive waves of men and horses, but nearly always devolved into hand to hand, personal fights, for both men and officers.