On August 14th, a crepe myrtle planted near the Brandy Station Foundation's Graffiti House was dedicated in memory of Robert L. (Bob) Jones. Bob had served the Foundation in so many roles, from President, Treasurer, Board Member, Graffiti House tour guide, Brandy Station battlefield tour guide, author, and friend. Bob and his wife had become friends with architectural conservator Chris Mills of Christopher Mills Conservation Services, LLC while Chris did work at the Graffiti House, stabilizing the walls and revealing graffiti hidden beneath layers of paint. Bob's family, Chris Mills, BSF President Howard Lambert and other BSF Board members remembered Bob and his contributions to preserving the Brandy Station Battlefield and the Graffiti House as well as expanding knowledge of the Civil War.
Bob co-authored The Graffiti House Interpretive Guide, “Voices from the Past”, along with Bob Luddy and Joe McKinney. Bob also wrote a poem “Listen” which took the listener from dawn until dark on the day of the Battle of Brandy Station, June 9, 1863. He read this poem many times during the St. James Church site commemorative services held in June to mark the anniversary of the Battle of Brandy Station and the destruction of St. James Episcopal Church on the Brandy Station battlefield during the Winter Encampment. Bob had also talked about the history of Battle of Brandy Station at some of the June services.
Here is one of Bob’s introductions to the Battle of Brandy Station at the service:
WHY WAS THERE A BATTLE AT BRANDY STATION? by Bob Jones
Some battle sites are obvious: Vicksburg, Atlanta, Richmond.
Some are by pure chance: Antietam, Gettysburg, Chancellorsville, and Brandy Station.
Two (2) major reasons for Brandy Station: JEB Stuart; and Grass!
Horses needed to be re-fit after Chancellorsville; Culpeper County is only a short day’s ride from Fredericksburg.
The Confederate Cavalry is preparing for the summer campaigns.
General R E Lee has decided to again go north; cross the Potomac; through Maryland; into Pennsylvania.
Lee is in Culpeper on June 7th; tells Stuart he wants to review the cavalry on June 8th; and Longstreet’s Corps is already moving westward.
The Grand Cavalry Review is June 8th which means that all of Stuart’s brigades are now close by to the site of the review -Auburn.
Union commander Hooker plans to take the offensive against Lee, instructs Brig. General Pleasonton, his cavalry commander, to dispatch a large body of cavalry (3 Divisions) against Stuart at Culpeper Courthouse to disrupt Lee’s plans. They do not know that the Grand Review has placed the bulk of the Confederate cavalry near Brandy Station.
On June 9th the Union cavalry cross the Rappahannock River at Beverly’s Ford and at Kelly’s Ford and the five (5) battles of Brandy Station take place throughout the day.
