In the final months of John Buford's leadership and, indeed, his life, the First Division of the Union cavalry, Army of the Potomac, were carrying out Major-General Meade's September 15th order by picketing the front and guarding the flanks of their army. The activities of Lee's and Meade's armies during the months of October and November 1863 -- a series of inconclusive battles fought in Virginia -- were called The Bristoe Campaign.
Following Gettysburg, Maj. Gen. George G. Meade began a maneuver in an attempt to inflict further defeat on Gen. Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia. Lee countered with a turning movement, which caused Meade to withdraw his army back toward Centreville. Lee struck at Bristoe Station on October 14, but suffered losses in two brigades and withdrew. As Meade followed south once again, the Union army smashed a Confederate defensive bridgehead at Rappahannock Station on November 7 and drove Lee back across the Rapidan River. Along with the infantry battles, the cavalry forces of the armies fought at Auburn on October 13, again at Auburn on October 14, and at Buckland Mills on October 19.
From Buford's Etat de Service, which was written in February of 1866 by his former Aide-de-Camp, Myles Keogh, we get an indication of where Buford (left) and, most likely, Keogh were during this campaign. Certainly, we can form an image in our mind as to John Buford's appearance at this time from the letters of Theodore Lyman, a staff member in Meade's Headquarters:"September 21st 1863 - Yesterday came General Buford, commander of the Second [sic - should be 1st] Cavalry Division, and held a pow-wow. He is one of the best officers of that arm and is a singular looking party. Figurez-vous a compactly built man of middle height, with a tawny moustache and a little, triangular gray eye, whose expression is determined, not to say sinister. His ancient corduroys are tucked into a pair of ordinary cowhide boots, and his blue blouse is ornamented with holes; from one pocket thereof peeps a huge pipe while the other is fat with a tobacco pouch. Notwithstanding this get-up he is a very soldierly looking man. He is of a good natured disposition, but not to be trifled with."
According to the Etat de Service, in September Buford's command crossed the Rapidan River in advance of the Army of the Potomac but "was recalled after having crossed & charged at the ford capturing numbers of prisoners". This is probably a reference to events on October 10th, when General Buford and most of his Division crossed the Rappahannock river at Morton's and Raccoon Fords. On a separate but interconnecting path was the rest of his Division – the First Brigade – who were to make a junction with him on the other side. At one of these crossings, the Eighth New York dashed across, surprised and captured about fifty prisoners in the rifle-pits before they could get back to their horses. Pressing on, the horses were also taken.
Keogh then refers to later that day when Buford and his section of the Division became separated from the rest of his command -- "he was almost overpowered left alone with his Brigades to resist all the Enemy's Cav."When the First Brigade marched up the river to Morton's Ford later that day, they failed to connect with the General or his command. One of Buford’s surgeons, Abner Hard, wrote how “during the night aids and orderlies were running hither and thither hunting for General Buford, with orders for him to fall back.”
Keogh then refers to later that day when Buford and his section of the Division became separated from the rest of his command -- "he was almost overpowered left alone with his Brigades to resist all the Enemy's Cav."When the First Brigade marched up the river to Morton's Ford later that day, they failed to connect with the General or his command. One of Buford’s surgeons, Abner Hard, wrote how “during the night aids and orderlies were running hither and thither hunting for General Buford, with orders for him to fall back.”
Wherever Buford, Keogh and the cavalry were that evening, the next day they had to fight tenaciously to reconnect with the rest of the army. With most of the Union cavalry and infantry ordered to fall back due to Rebel pressure, Keogh wrote how Buford "cut his way back across the Rappahannock". Early on the morning of October 11, the Rebel infantry attacked General Buford, whose command had begun to re-cross the river. It was a difficult ford, but the crossing was safely accomplished by putting artillery in position to cover the retreat. The Ninth New York and Twelfth Illinois made a charge and held the enemy at a respectful distance.
Scarcely had Buford made it across, when the Rebel cavalry was discovered crossing at another ford above their position. Buford's Eighth Illinois dismounted and went out to meet them, but the Confederate cavalry -- the Fourth Virginia Cavalry in the vanguard -- advanced with great boldness due to their superior numbers. The Union cavalry held their fire until the head of the Rebel column was almost upon them before unleashing a deadly volley that ended the charge. Among those killed was the Colonel of the Fourth Virginia Cavalry whose men called to him to come back, but it was too late. The Confederate artillery then began to fire their lethal canister shot and Rebel infantry advanced again in overpowering numbers, causing Buford's men to retire. They fell back slowly past Stevensburg, keeping the enemy at bay all the way to Rappahannock Station -- a distance of about twenty-two miles. Before reaching the latter place their ammunition gave out and the men were obliged to receive the fire of the rebel infantry without being able to reply.
After the wounded were sent to Washington by rail, Buford again crossed the Rappahannock and advanced toward Culpeper, this time supported by a force of infantry, and going over the very ground he fought over the day before. The Rebels were now forced back to near Culpeper, but their infantry came up once more in heavy force, causing Buford, Keogh and the cavalry to retire to Brandy Station. Abner Hard reported that they arrived "after dark and went into camp without rations or forage." About midnight, orders came for Buford to move at once and re-cross the Rappahannock as Lee's army was reported to be flanking Meade's and moving on Washington –- Buford’s cavalry were to be rear-guard again. However, this order for the cavalry to advance was a ruse, made only to deceive the enemy and cover the retreat of the Union infantry. Keogh makes reference to this in the Etat de Service when he wrote "covered Meade's retreat to Bull Run."
On October 13, while camped at Warrenton Junction, Buford's First Division were entrusted with the protection of almost the entire supply train of the Army of the Potomac -- approximately seven thousand wagons in size. Keogh refers to it as "saved the whole transportation of the Army" but, in truth, the task required the virtue of patience rather than bravery. While the army was fighting at Bristoe station, the cavalry were nursing the vast wagon train towards Alexandria. Some of the men referred to it as an "anaconda" that took half a day to uncoil itself for the journey to its destination. There was always the threat of JEB Stuart's men attacking the transport but this did not occur until near Bull Run where the Union cavalry held their mounted foe at bay until the wagons were safely encamped at Fairfax station.
Continuing Buford's service history and using one of his trademark alliterations -- "shattered and scattered" -- Keogh next writes that Buford:
"Fought his way with two Brigades to join the Army at Kelly's Ford or Rappahannock Station & was successful,...covering the retreat of Gen'l Kilpatrick's shattered & scattered forces at Brandy Station."The reference to rescuing the troops of General Judson Kilpatrick refers to the battle at Buckland Mills on October 19 -- an affair that came to be known as the "Buckland Races". After defeat at Bristoe Station on October 14 and an aborted advance on Centreville, Stuart's cavalry shielded the withdrawal of Lee's army from the vicinity of Manassas Junction. Union cavalry under Kilpatrick pursued Stuart's cavalry along the Warrenton Turnpike but were lured into an ambush near Chestnut Hill and routed. The Federal troopers were scattered and apparently chased for five miles.
It was around this date that Buford had begun to show signs of fatigue and illness. Theodore Lyman (right) in Meade's HQ wrote on October 19th:"General Buford came in today, cold and tired and wet; “Oh!” he said to me, “do you know what I would do if I were a volunteer aide? I would just run home as a fast as I could, and never come back again!” The General takes his hardships good-naturedly."
Nonetheless, he was still on duty and his troops, Keogh included, were still in an ongoing sequence of skirmishes with the enemy. One of Keogh's reports also exists from this time and is a reference to the activities of Devin's Brigade:
OCTOBER 24, 1863.
Lieutenant Colonel C. ROSS SMITH:
Report from the cavalry advance toward Bealeton Station:
Colonel Devin's brigade, of the First Division, encamped last night at Liberty, pushing one regiment as far as Bealeton Station. This morning Colonel Devin sent two regiments to drive the enemy's pickets toward or across the river at Rappahannock Station, in order to establish his line at that point. Colonel Devin's men succeeded in driving the enemy from the woods a mile on this side of the river, and close on to the works over the burned bridge, where the enemy had their infantry in line, and from whence they immediately pushed forward about 3,000 men with a force of cavalry, the infantry moving on the north and the cavalry on the south side. Colonel Devin fell back, being closely followed by the enemy's infantry, as far as Liberty, when the enemy halted, and in a short time fell back, followed by our forces, toward Bealeton. Colonel Devin did not engage the enemy, merely observing his movements, losing only 1 man killed and a few wounded.
Colonel Devin expects to have his brigade advance by sunset close to Bealeton, as the last reports from his advance guard say: The enemy seem to be retiring to their previous position in the works at Rappahannock Bridge. Colonel Gregg reports to have learned from a prisoner, or deserter, that Ewell's corps occupy the works at the bridge, two divisions being on this side. Both of our cavalry brigade commanders agree in saying that there is at least one division of rebel infantry on this side.
A locomotive was heard to approach the bridge last night from Culpeper.
Respectfully forwarded.
MYLES W. KEOGH,
Captain, and Aide-de-Camp.
We get an idea of the point where Buford's health deteriorated and he was no longer able to command when Abner Hard, of Buford's medical staff, noted:
Myles Keogh simply wrote Buford..."was taken ill from fatigue & extreme hardship." Keogh accompanied his General to Washington where he was to rest and recuperate at the home of his friend and fellow Union general, George Stoneman. It was to be John Buford's final journey...
"We remained in camp near Culpepper, doing picket duty, without anything of note transpiring until November 21st, when General Buford became so ill it was thought best to send him to Washington."