History of Auburn, (Fauquier County) Virginia United States of America

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Local History Notes:

Auburn, VA., Near, Oct. 1, 1863. 1st Pennsylvania Cavalry. A detachment of about 100 Men Under Capt. McNitt, scouted through the country about Warrenton. Near Auburn, 4 Miles from headquarters and 1 mile beyond the Federal Picket-Line, McNitt was attacked by 100 to 150 Confederate cavalry. After a short skirmish in which 2 Union men were wounded and 1 Confederate was captured, the enemy retired on the Greenwich Road.

Auburn, VA., Oct. 13, 1863. 1st Division, 3rd Army Corps. At Three-Mile Station, on the Warrenton Branch railroad, Maj.-Gen. David B. Birney, commanding the division, was ordered from corps headquarters to precede the Federal column. At the Head of the column he was joined by Maj.-Gen. French and escort. Before reaching the Woods immediately in front of the bridge at Auburn, dismounted cavalry of the enemy poured a volley into the advance guard and the Head of the column. A section of Sleeper's battery was opened upon the enemy, the 1st and part of the 3rd brigade were formed on the right and left of the road, a charge was made into the Woods and the Confederate force was speedily dislodged. By command of Gen. French, Birney immediately advanced and took possession of the heights on which the enemy had their battery, left there the 3rd Mich. and a section of battery and marched to Greenwich. He reported a loss of 33 killed, wounded and missing.

Auburn, VA., Oct. 14, 1863. 1st Division, 2nd Corps, Army of the Potomac. Early in the morning a sudden and furious attack was made on the rear guard of the Army of the Potomac, while it was moving northward along the line of the Orange & Alexandria railroad, between Catlett's station and Warrenton. The 1st division commanded by Brig-Gen. Caldwell and forming the advance of the 2nd Corps, Under Maj.-Gen. Warren had reached Cedar run near Auburn at dark the Day before and bivouacked there. At daybreak the division Forded the run and Caldwell's orders were to hold this point against any attack from the direction of Warrenton, until the rest of the corps with the artillery and wagons had passed on toward Catlett's station. He must remain until his line could be relieved by cavalry, the battery by horse artillery. Suddenly the enemy opened fire from a battery on A Hill about 800 yards in his Rear. Caldwell ordered each of his brigade commanders to take his troops rapidly round the Hill Under Cover. Ricketts' Battery, immediately in the rear of the division, was quickly reversed and soon silenced the Confederate guns. Then the division again changed front and faced Toward Warrenton, for the enemy's skirmishers had appeared in its rear. Since daylight there had been skirmishing to the left and in front. Now skirmishers were coming in across the Field. Caldwell ordered the 57th N. Y. of the 3rd brigade to report to Col. Brooke and directed him to cover the Federal Front. Brooke deployed the 57th Penn., 2nd Del. and 57th N.Y. as skirmishers and kept the 145th Penn. and the 64th N.Y. as support. The 2nd and 3rd divisions, and the batteries, except Arnold's and Ames', had Gone Toward Bristoe Station. The 1st division and Arnold's and Ames' batteries remained. The enemy opened on the Federal left and Arnold's Battery, First with one battery, then with 2 others further to the left. His aim was accurate, but the Federal artillery and infantry were so well covered that he did little damage. About 200 rounds of ammunition were fired. On a crest across Cedar run, Carroll's brigade, its front covered by a picket- line, commanded by Col. Beaver of the 148th Penn., was menaced by the enemy, and by order of Warren, Caldwell Sent the Irish brigade to reinforce it. By 8 o'clock Gregg's Cavalry was in line across the run. At length the horse artillery arrived and Ames' Battery and the Irish brigade were sent to an elevated position in the rear beside the Road. Caldwell withdrew the division, detailing Brooke's brigade with a section of artillery as rear-guard. The cavalry which was to have covered Brooke's Rear preceded his skirmishers. A quarter of a mile from his first position he was vigorously attacked on the right and rear. The enemy, with a column of infantry thrown across the road, cut off the 57th N.Y., which was in the rear, but by A Detour the regiment regained the Column. Brooke withdrew in perfect order, fighting and repelling the attacks of two lines of battle, the first consisting of 5 regiments. Before reaching the railroad the division took up two defensive positions, and though the Confederates approached they did not attack.

SOURCE: The Union Army A History of Military Affairs in the Loyal States 1861-65 -- Records of the Regiments in the Union Army -- Cyclopedia of Battles -- Memoirs of Commanders and Soldiers. 8 vols. Madison: Federal Publishing, 1908.

Auburn, VA., Oct. 13, 1863. 1st Division, 3rd Army Corps. At Three-Mile Station, on the Warrenton Branch railroad, Maj.-Gen. David B. Birney, commanding the division, was ordered from corps headquarters to precede the Federal column. At the Head of the column he was joined by Maj.-Gen. French and escort. Before reaching the Woods immediately in front of the bridge at Auburn, dismounted cavalry of the enemy poured a volley into the advance guard and the Head of the column. A section of Sleeper's battery was opened upon the enemy, the 1st and part of the 3rd brigade were formed on the right and left of the road, a charge was made into the Woods and the Confederate force was speedily dislodged. By command of Gen. French, Birney immediately advanced and took possession of the heights on which the enemy had their battery, left there the 3rd Mich. and a section of battery and marched to Greenwich. He reported a loss of 33 killed, wounded and missing.

SOURCE: The Union Army A History of Military Affairs in the Loyal States 1861-65 -- Records of the Regiments in the Union Army -- Cyclopedia of Battles -- Memoirs of Commanders and Soldiers. 8 vols. Madison: Federal Publishing, 1908.