KELLY'S FORD, Engagements at. This point on the (-1.; 1. iv cr ;ix miles above its junction with the Rapidan and about five miles below Rappahannock Station was the scene of several engagements hew een the Fed erals and Confederates during the Civil War. In August 1862, the Union cavalry of the Army of Virginia had a spirited encounter with the Confederate cavalry, and 17 March 1863 General Averell, with 2,100 Union cavalry and a battery of six guns, crossed at the ford, after a sharp and /nuked un Culpeper Court House, under orders to rout and destr, y Fitz hugh Lee's cavalry brigade, reported at that place. Lee was found in his immediate front with five regiments and a battery, and when about noon Averell advanced, a hard nght en sued, during which Lee was graduiaity forced back over a mile; then Averell was checked, finally driven back and recrossed the river at dark. It was the first purely cavalry battle of tht. war, and was closely contested on both sides. The Union loss was 65 killed and
wounded and 22 missing; the Confederate loss, 99 killed and v, uundcd and 34 missing. Among the Confederate killed was Capt. John. Pel ham, a young artillerist of much vornise. A portion of PLasanton's cavalry dhl..,-on crossed the ford and teak part in the battle u, Fleet wood (q.v.) 9 June 1863. \\ hen General Meade began -his Mine Run campaign (see MINE RUN) two corps of the Army of the Potomac under General Sedgwick forced the passage of the Rappahannock at the railroad crossing, 7 Nov. 1863, while General French, with two corps, forced the pasaRe at Kelly's Ford, five miles below. • The advance of the Thhd corps crossed with a loss of 36 killed and wounded, the Con federate loss being 64 killed and wounded and 295 capture& and the Army of the Potomac was united at Bratidy 'Station. Preceding and following these engagements the ford was the scene of many Stirring events.