August 1 — We were on picket to-day until noon; were relieved then by the second section of our battery. We came back to camp and were there about two hours when orders came for us to move camp, as the enemy was advancing on Culpeper Court House. Soon after we received orders to move camp we heard artillery and musket firing in the direction of Brandy Station. In quick succession the boom of cannon came rolling across the fields of Culpeper, which was a clear and self-evident indication that there was a sharp conflict transpiring not far away.
We had our horses hitched to the battery and were ready to move at a moment’s notice, and were waiting with momentous anxiety for a summons to hasten to the field of action.
We did not have to wait long, for the firing grew fiercer every moment, and soon a courier came post haste for us to hurry to the fray. We started at once and moved rapidly for about four miles, then we drew in sight of the battle-field, which was already piled full of bunches of white, battle smoke. When we first arrived in sight of the field two Yankee batteries were shelling some of our infantry and a battery on our right. We were directly on the right flank of the Yankee line, and we opened a square enfilade fire on their batteries, which compelled them to abandon their position immediately after we opened. We advanced then and took another position and opened fire, and the Yanks again retired, and so we kept up a running fight for two hours, in which time we drove the enemy back about three miles. Then the shades of night were already falling fast, and the gathering darkness lulled the wavelet of war to quietude and rest. The field where the little fight occurred is a level plain about two miles long, with the Orange and Alexandria Railroad on one side and a body of woods on the other. It is identically the very same field where General Stuart held his grand reviews last June.
The engagement to-day was principally between cavalry, with some artillery mixed in on both sides.
General Hampton’s cavalry and General Jones’ brigade were in the fight on our side. For the last few days the weather has been oppressively hot, in fact, too hot for an active butcher business. However, if the bluecoats can endure it the gray jackets can do the same thing.
After the fight this evening we moved back about two miles west of Brandy Station, and camped.
