Fitz Lee had repulsed Buford on the Rapidan; followed him on his retreat, harassing him at every step--when, just as Buford reached Brandy, with Fitz Lee at his heels, Kilpatrick descended on Fitz Lee’s rear by the Sperryville road, and Stuart thundered down on _his_! Thus Fitz Lee was pursuing Buford; Kilpatrick, Fitz Lee; and Stuart, Kilpatrick! It was a grand and comic jumble--except that it came very near being any thing but comic to that joyous cavalier, “General Fitz,” as we called him--caught as he was between Generals Buford and Kilpatrick! General Fitz was the man for a “tight place,” however--and “his people,” as he called his cavalry, soon cut through to Stuart. It was a tough and heavy fight. “Old Jeb cut off more than he could _chaw_, that time!” said a veteran afterward, in describing the fight. And at one time it seemed that the enemy were going to hold their ground. Fleetwood, beyond, was lined with bayonets, and every knoll was crowned with cannon: when night fell, however, the whole force had retreated and crossed the Rappahannock, leaving the ground strewed with their dead and wounded. In the dusky woods near Brandy, Stuart sat his horse, looking toward the Rappahannock, and laughing still. He was talking with brave Fitz Lee, whose stout figure, flowing beard, and eyes twinkling with humor, were plain in the starlight. I shall show you that gallant figure more than once in this volume, reader. You had but to look at him to see that he was the bravest of soldiers, and the best of comrades. So night fell on a victory. Stuart had driven the enemy at every step. He had charged their infantry, cavalry, and artillery, routing all,--and he was once more in sight of Fleetwood Hill, where he had defeated them in the preceding June. Singular current of war! It used to bear us onward; but be taken with a sudden fancy to flow back to the old spots! See Manassas, Fredericksburg, Cold Harbor, Chancellorsville! Fleetwood takes its place with them--twice bloody and memorable. In sight of it took place two of Stuart’s hardest combats--and both were victories. VI. THE RUSE. By sunrise Stuart was pushing rapidly up the bank of the Rappahannock toward Warrenton Springs. Meade had retreated from Culpeper, and was falling back rapidly. Lee was pressing on to cut him off in the vicinity of Auburn. A hot fight took place at Jeffersonton, a little village beyond Hazel River; and here the enemy fought from house to house, but finally retreated. Stuart followed, and came up with their rear retreating over the bridge at Warrenton Springs. On the northern bank the Federal sharp-shooters were posted in double line. Stuart turned, and saw, not far from him, the Jefferson Company who had charged so gallantly at Stonehouse Mountain. A movement of his hand, and they were charging over the bridge.