In separating his army so widely, General Lee doubtless counted upon the concealment which he had practiced in the movements of the troops. The cavalry did admirable work in acting as a screen. He had a right to reckon, too, upon the forbearance of his opponent. He felt assured that Hooker would never venture, or would not be permitted to uncover Washington, and while he had put the bulk of his army farther from Richmond than where Hooker's army lay, he was not without rail communication to the capital. About the same time Hooker planned a more important expedition to the right. In a letter to Halleck of June 6th, he expressed his determination to break up the rebel force of cavalry in Culpeper, saying he meant to send for this purpose all his cavalry, stiffened by about three thousand infantry, and Pleasanton, the Chief of Cavalry, was directed to disperse and destroy the rebel forces in the vicinity of Culpeper, and destroy its trains and supplies, after which he would be free to move as he thought proper, the instructions added, "It is believed the enemy has no infantry."
General Stuart had now under his command five brigades of cavalry, and that arm of the service was greater in numbers and in better condition than it had ever been before, or ever was afterwards.
On the 7th of June Stuart arranged for a grand review of his cavalry by General Lee, who was greatly pleased at their appearance, and on the following day, in writing a private letter to his family, he says, "I reviewed the cavalry in this section yesterday. It was a splendid sight. The men and 'horses looked well. They had recuperated since last fall. Stuart was in all his glory," &c.
At daylight on the morning of the 9th, under Pleasanton's directions, Buford with a division of cavalry crossed the Rappahannock at Beverly Ford, while Gregg with two divisions and the infantry crossed the stream about seven miles below at Kelly's Ford, the objective point of both columns being Brandy Station, about six miles north of Culpeper Court House, towards which the roads from the two fords converged. The south bank of the stream at the upper ford was picketed by a single company of cavalry, Jones' brigade being encamped about a mile and a half in rear, with a battalion of horse artillery parked in front
