brandy station battlefield tour
Culpeper Battlefields Tour Guide Tracy Baer speaks of the significance of geography from the top of Buford’s Knoll on the Brandy Station Battlefield.
A journey through hallowed ground, soon to be Virginia’s newest state park
Horses galloped the open fields of Brandy Station Saturday, more than 160 years after the largest Civil War cavalry battle was fought on the same ground.
Some 65 riders saddled up on Culpeper County’s hallowed ground to learn about the bloody conflict from guides professionally vetted and trained by Culpeper Battlefield Tours, which provides tours of area Civil War sites.
Brandy Station battlefield tour
Civil War cavalry reenactors greet Virginia Horse Council riders Saturday as they begin a history trail ride of the Brandy Station battlefield.
Organized by the Virginia Horse Council (VHC) in partnership with the American Battlefield Trust and the American Quarter Horse Association, the ride took place on 1,000-plus acres of rolling hills and hollows, preserved land destined in 2024 to become Virginia’s newest state park.
The June 9, 1863, battle involved 20,000 mounted Union and Confederate troops. Though the Southerners held the field, both armies suffered severe losses just as Gen. Robert E. Lee was preparing to invade enemy territory. After Lee marched hundreds of thousands of Confederate troops through Rappahannock County northward, the two armies clashed at Gettysburg less than a month later, a crushing loss for the South.
“This is our annual history ride, in support of the industry and to teach the history of the horse in our state,” said Virginia Horse Council President Steve Escobar in a phone interview, adding they led similar trail rides in years past along the James River in Charles City County at Shirley Plantation and Fort Pocahontas as well as Culpeper’s own Cedar Mountain.
“VHC advocates for the horse industry in Virginia,” Escobar said. “We represent them in legislative efforts. Come join us — come learn about what we do.”
brandy station battlefield tour
Organizers Cathette Plumer of the American Quarter Horse Association, Steve Escobar, president of the Virginia Horse Council, and Susan Ralston with Culpeper Battlefield Tours talk Saturday as participants arrive.
Cathette Plumer, a recreational advisor for the American Quarter Horse Association in charge of logistics Saturday, said Civil War cavalry reenactors led groups of six to 10 riders to prearranged checkpoints on the battlefield where tour guides met and shared stories of soldiers and horses who fought ferociously a century and a half ago.
“What a beautiful day,” Plumer said, marveling at the abundant sunshine and fall colors. “We enjoy bringing like-minded people together, learning some history and building friendships.”
Escobar said the event was an opportunity to spread the word about the future state park.
“It’s just wonderful that all this beautiful scenery will become public, a perfect place for walkers, hikers and horses,” he said. “I love that it’s all going into state hands.”
Escobar said often people think of Kentucky when you mention equestrian history in America.
“But really Virginia is where it all started, Virginia is where the whole history of our nation began, horses included,” he said. “It’s important for everyone to know about that.”
brandy station battlefield tour buford’s knoll
The next group makes their way up Buford’s Knoll.
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