Off To The Races

The Battle of Buckland Mill was a cavalry fight between Union Brigadier General H Judson Kilpatrick and Confederate Major General JEB Stuart, fought October 19^th 1863.

Following the Confederate defeat at Bristoe, Confederate Major General JEB Stuart with a cavalry division under Major General Wade Hampton, were covering General Robert E Lee’s retreat from the Manassas Junction area.  The Confederate cavalry was in the Buckland Mills area.  They were being pursued along the Warrenton Turnpike by Union Brigadier General Judson Kilpatrick.  On October 19^th 1863 the Union troops were ambushed when Stuart turned on the Union cavalry, while Confederate Major General Fitzhugh Lee charged into the Union flank.  Kilpatrick’s men were overwhelmed, and they bolted to Haymarket five miles away.  The Confederate commanders said it was like a fox hunt and called the Battle, “The Buckland Races”.