JEFFERSONTON, Engagement at. Early in October 1863 the Army of the Potomac, under command of General Meade, lay around Culpeper Court House, with the advance of two corps on the Rapidan. General Lee, who was south of the Rapidan, determined to flank Meade's position, seized the Orange and Alex andria Railroad north of the Rappahannock, and intercept his retreat upon Washington. Informed of the movement, Meade withdrew his army to the north side of the Rappahan nock, 11 October, his rear-guard of cavalry having a sharp engagement with the Confeder ate cavalry at Brandy Station. Believing that the Confederate army was moving upon Cul peper, Meade turned about and on the 12th threw three infantry corps and a cavalry divi sion south of the Rappahannock, with instruc tions to push forward and find and strike Lee, if at Culpeper. When they reached Brandy Station the Confederate army was nowhere in that neighborhood. At this time General Gregg's division of Union cavalry was guarding the upper fords of the Rappahannock and Hazel rivers; on the morning of the 12th Colonel Gregg's brigade crossed the Rappahannock near Sulphur Springs; his pickets at Jeffersonton being driven in, he marched for that place, found it in possession of the enemy, drove them from the town and occupied it. That morning
Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry division, leading the Confederate advance from near Madison Court House, crossed Hazel River at Stark's Ford and pressed on toward the Rappahannock. The 11th Virginia Cavalry drove Gregg's skir mishers into Jeffersonton and attacked the two regiments in the town, but was driven out after losing several men. The 7th and 12th Virginia were now sent to the left and right, encircling the town, a combined attack was made, and Gregg was utterly routed and driven across the Rappahannock, with a loss of about 400 men, most of them captured. The Confederate loss was about 40 killed and wounded. When Meade heard of the engagement, and that Lee was crossing the Rappahannock at Warrenton Springs, he hastily recrossed the river, with drew to Auburn and Catlett's Station and, on the 14th, to Centreville, Lee following closely and attacking his rear at Auburn and Bristoe Station during the day. Consult