Civil War 1862 Report W/ Hand Drawn Map Contraband Cavalry Fairfax Virginia
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:131504 |
July 26, 1862 report by Captain J. A. (John Andrew) Judson of the U.S. Volunteers Adjutant General Department (Regular Army) during the Northern Virginia Campaign.Report reads, Copy.Head Quarters U. S. Forces
Fairfax Va. July 26th 1862
6. P. M.Information additional to the report of Capt. Broenick 1st New Jersey Cavalry, in relation to his scout to Racoon Ford, July 25th 1862.Capt. Broenick informs me that in conversation with a contraband he found that on the 24th about 2 o'cloc...k P.M. sin of the enemy's cavalry came down the road skirting the river from the direction of Summerville Ford, and stopped him near Racoon's Ford. One of the party inquired of this contraband "if there was not a ford lower down the river, " and adding that "they were too much crowded up there, and wanted to get more room." The negro told them he "knew of no other ford than the Raccoon Ford, in the neighborhood and this was the best one on the river." The party then crossed the ford. What direction they afterward took the negro was unable to say.The Captain also reports that he found for about two miles of the way to the ford, the road could be distinctly seen from the hills upon the opposite side of the Rapidan. On his return, and when about a mile from the ford, he found that by taking a little road directly forward thro' the wood instead of following the main road, he would not only be concealed from view by the forest, but would also save at least a mile of travel. He reports this by-path, although quite rough, to be practicable for artillery. Its junction with the main road nearest to Fairfax is however without our lines, and of course the road is only useful to those who do not hold the commanding heights beyond. Annexed is a sketch."Signed" J. A. Judson
Capt. A. A. Genl.Genl. Crawford
Comm'dgTrue copy
L. H. PelouzeA good article on this part of Virginia (Somerville Ford, Raccoon Ford, Rapidan River, etc.) during the Civil War can be found at npsfrsp.wordpress.com/2013/11/27/exploring-culpeper-and-orange-somerville-ford/.John Andrew Judson (third photo above, for reference only) enlisted on 2/3/1862 as a Captain and was commissioned into U.S. Volunteers Adjutant General Department. He was listed as P.O.W. (date and place not stated) and exchanged for Nathaniel C. Harmon of the 12th North Carolina on 9/21/1862 at Aiken's Landing, Virginia. He was mustered out on 9/15/1865.General Crawford refers to General Samuel W. Crawford. Extensive information on his service can be found online. Louis Henry Pelouze enlisted a Captain and appointed Acting Assistant Adjutant General on the staff of General John A. Dix. Promoted Major, on the staff with the II Corps of the Army of Virginia, he was severely wounded at the Battle of Cedar Mountain in August 1862. After recovering, he was promoted Lieutenant Colonel in the Adjutant General's Department at Washington DC, serving on special duty for the remainder of the war. For valuable services in the field and in the Adjutant General's Department, he was brevetted Brigadier General of US Volunteers on March 13, 1865. He graduated from the U. S. Military Academy at West Point on 7/1/1853."Capt. Broenick is almost certainly a misspelling of Captain Virgil Broderick of the 1st New Jersey Cavalry. He enlisted in the Union Army only days after the Confederate bombardment of Fort Sumter, being mustered in as a Private in Company F, 20th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry ("The Scott Legion") on April 30, 1861 (although his family name is "Brodrick", he served under the name "Broderick"). Mustered out on August 6, 1861, Virgil Broderick rejoined the burgeoning Union war effort less than two weeks later, being commissioned as Captain and commander of Company K, 1st New Jersey Volunteer Cavalry on August 14, 1861. He led his company through its battles and engagements in the Spring and Summer 1862, then received a promotion to Major on September 28 of that year. When the regiments Lieutenant Colonel, Joseph Karge, resigned in December 1862 to recruit what would become the 2nd New Jersey Volunteer Cavalry, Major Broderick would eventually be advanced to that rank to fill the vacancy (February 10, 1863). He was in command of the regiment as it partook in the cavalry clashes that marked the beginning of the Gettysburg Campaign in June 1863. In the June 9, 1863 Battle of Brandy Station, Virginia, he was unhorsed while directed a charge of his men on Confederate troopers under General J.E.B. Stuart. As the fighting swirled around him, he was cut down by a Confederate trooper and killed. His body was later found thrown down a well by Confederate soldiers. Buried at the base of the flagpole in what is now Culpeper National Cemetery in Culpeper, Virginia.* CONDITION: Very Good++
* SIZE: Measures approximately 7 3/4 x 9 7/8 inches.
Fairfax Va. July 26th 1862
6. P. M.Information additional to the report of Capt. Broenick 1st New Jersey Cavalry, in relation to his scout to Racoon Ford, July 25th 1862.Capt. Broenick informs me that in conversation with a contraband he found that on the 24th about 2 o'cloc...k P.M. sin of the enemy's cavalry came down the road skirting the river from the direction of Summerville Ford, and stopped him near Racoon's Ford. One of the party inquired of this contraband "if there was not a ford lower down the river, " and adding that "they were too much crowded up there, and wanted to get more room." The negro told them he "knew of no other ford than the Raccoon Ford, in the neighborhood and this was the best one on the river." The party then crossed the ford. What direction they afterward took the negro was unable to say.The Captain also reports that he found for about two miles of the way to the ford, the road could be distinctly seen from the hills upon the opposite side of the Rapidan. On his return, and when about a mile from the ford, he found that by taking a little road directly forward thro' the wood instead of following the main road, he would not only be concealed from view by the forest, but would also save at least a mile of travel. He reports this by-path, although quite rough, to be practicable for artillery. Its junction with the main road nearest to Fairfax is however without our lines, and of course the road is only useful to those who do not hold the commanding heights beyond. Annexed is a sketch."Signed" J. A. Judson
Capt. A. A. Genl.Genl. Crawford
Comm'dgTrue copy
L. H. PelouzeA good article on this part of Virginia (Somerville Ford, Raccoon Ford, Rapidan River, etc.) during the Civil War can be found at npsfrsp.wordpress.com/2013/11/27/exploring-culpeper-and-orange-somerville-ford/.John Andrew Judson (third photo above, for reference only) enlisted on 2/3/1862 as a Captain and was commissioned into U.S. Volunteers Adjutant General Department. He was listed as P.O.W. (date and place not stated) and exchanged for Nathaniel C. Harmon of the 12th North Carolina on 9/21/1862 at Aiken's Landing, Virginia. He was mustered out on 9/15/1865.General Crawford refers to General Samuel W. Crawford. Extensive information on his service can be found online. Louis Henry Pelouze enlisted a Captain and appointed Acting Assistant Adjutant General on the staff of General John A. Dix. Promoted Major, on the staff with the II Corps of the Army of Virginia, he was severely wounded at the Battle of Cedar Mountain in August 1862. After recovering, he was promoted Lieutenant Colonel in the Adjutant General's Department at Washington DC, serving on special duty for the remainder of the war. For valuable services in the field and in the Adjutant General's Department, he was brevetted Brigadier General of US Volunteers on March 13, 1865. He graduated from the U. S. Military Academy at West Point on 7/1/1853."Capt. Broenick is almost certainly a misspelling of Captain Virgil Broderick of the 1st New Jersey Cavalry. He enlisted in the Union Army only days after the Confederate bombardment of Fort Sumter, being mustered in as a Private in Company F, 20th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry ("The Scott Legion") on April 30, 1861 (although his family name is "Brodrick", he served under the name "Broderick"). Mustered out on August 6, 1861, Virgil Broderick rejoined the burgeoning Union war effort less than two weeks later, being commissioned as Captain and commander of Company K, 1st New Jersey Volunteer Cavalry on August 14, 1861. He led his company through its battles and engagements in the Spring and Summer 1862, then received a promotion to Major on September 28 of that year. When the regiments Lieutenant Colonel, Joseph Karge, resigned in December 1862 to recruit what would become the 2nd New Jersey Volunteer Cavalry, Major Broderick would eventually be advanced to that rank to fill the vacancy (February 10, 1863). He was in command of the regiment as it partook in the cavalry clashes that marked the beginning of the Gettysburg Campaign in June 1863. In the June 9, 1863 Battle of Brandy Station, Virginia, he was unhorsed while directed a charge of his men on Confederate troopers under General J.E.B. Stuart. As the fighting swirled around him, he was cut down by a Confederate trooper and killed. His body was later found thrown down a well by Confederate soldiers. Buried at the base of the flagpole in what is now Culpeper National Cemetery in Culpeper, Virginia.* CONDITION: Very Good++
* SIZE: Measures approximately 7 3/4 x 9 7/8 inches.
