The following letter was written by Lt. Christian Balder of the 6th US Cavalry describing the Battle of Brandy Station. A few weeks after this letter was penned, Balder was killed at the Battle of Fairfield and his comrade, Tattnall Pauling—the recipient of this letter—was taken prisoner.

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Camp 6th Cavalry
Near Catlett’s Station, Virginia
June 12th, 1863

My dear Paulding,

As I have today a few moments to spare, I will drop you a few lines. You have undoubtedly read in the Chronicle of yesterday the account of our fight with the rebs. Don’t believe the half of it. I for one will never believe newspaper accounts for they are all stating falsehoods—either directly or indirectly. It appears from the Chronicle that the & 6th Pennsylvania supported by the 6th Regulars, done all the hard licks, when the Pennsylvanians “God save mark” ran like sheep.

I will now try to give you an account of as much as came under my observation. Col. Davis’s Brigade went over the river first. They had little difficulty in crossing because the rebs were a little surprised and did not expect us. Davis drove them slowly but poor fellow, he was nearly one of the first who were killed. The rebs contested every inch of ground manfully and the fight grew beautifully larger and larger. The Reserve Brigade and Elders Battery had a position in an open field with thick heavy woods to our front and left, and being subjected to a heavy fire from a hill to our right and front. That hill should have been occupied by us, and we could have gotten it very early in the day but “somebody” thought it was of no consequence. We remained in this field till after 12; Elder’s Battery firing but little.

In coming from water with Co. F, Private Viall had the top of his head carried away by a round shot from a battery on the hill above alluded to. He died instantly. Finally we were ordered to advance through the woods to our front. Brisbin’s and Clafin Squadron having been sent to some other points, we had only four squadrons remaining. The 2d Cavalry took the lead, then followed the 6th Pennsylvania, then our regiment. I, being Officer of the Day, brought up the rear with 15 men of the guard. The 1st Cavalry did not cross the river till late in the afternoon. The 5th was on some other part of the field. We advanced through the woods in column of squadron. When I got half ways through the woods, I heard cheering and shouting as if the infernals had brook loose from the lower region. Nor, thinks I, my brave Mackerals are giving it to the rebs. On emerging from the woods, I saw about one regiment of cavalry. I thought they were our men for they were dressed the same. They soon thought me different, however, when they commenced firing at me and my brave 15 Mackerals, and then they made several miserable attempts to…[missing page?]

…but did not do so. I looked in vain for the 2nd, 6th Pennsylvania, and ours, but they had commenced a hurried advance toward Washington. The 6th Pennsylvania had indeed made a charge, so I heard, but a great many jumped into a ditch, got stuck, and were taken prisoners. Why the 2nd & 6th Regulars run is impossible for me to say and I think it is a great shame. On my retreating in the woods, I seen cavaliers without hats, scratched noses, and the axes of our pioneers bumping against the backs like forty. The rebs were shelling the woods all the time, and Madden was wounded by a shell, not dangerous, and he is now in Washington doing well. Herin was taken prisoner.

On arriving again in our first field, I found the 6th had partially rallied and I went to my squadron. What little accidents occurred from then to about 2 o’clock is not worth mentioning. We were continually skirmishing and having little charges repeatedly with more or less success. The rebs fought bravely. At one place the 2nd had about 1 good squadron charging a host of rebs, driving them for a while, and then the rebs driving them. Brisbin having by this time joined, he and Wade tried them with their squadrons but with little better success. I and Ward went in next. We rallied, drove them again to near the edge of a wood, they firing a shower of bullets at us and we at them, being only about 30 yards apart. My mare was hot through her hind leg, but did not hurt her much. My blood got up. I wanted my squadron to charge with me. Ward and Tupper done the same but would not get those dowboys to come on. They all fight very well with the carbine and pistol, but have no confidence in the sabre.

I was in front of the squadron waving my sabre and entreating and cursing them alternately when turning only for one moment to my men, trying to get them on, when all of a sudden, a rebel officer came dashing at me at full speed, making a tremendous right cut at me. But fortunately, I just perceived him in the nick of time. I parried his cut successfully and striking his sabre clean out of his hand. He fled by me and one of my men shot him through the heart. We stood fully 15 or 20 minutes opposite each other, the rebs afraid to charge, and only firing at us. I then seen about a regiment of rebs coming through a field on our right, and I thought it time to retire. But poor Ward had been killed. He worked like a Trojan to get his men to go in with the sabre, but could not succeed. About half an hour after that Stoll was killed whilst skirmishing with a part of that regiment. I had seen so many on my right. So you see we lost just one-third of our officers in killed, wounded and missing. Out of about 280 men, we had about 50.

I never gave the rebs so much credit before but I must now say they go in with a will. Is it not strange now that the papers never say anything about the 2nd & 6th who fought fine in the afternoon, no matter what they done in the morning. Their list of killed and wounded speak for themselves.

My dear Paulding, I must now stop. Write to me soon. My love to Nichols. Yours truly, — Balder