The Battle of Brandy Station Virginia historical marker is along the southwest-bound lanes of the divided James Madison Highway (U.S. 15 & 29), about 1.1 miles northeast of Brandy Station, Virgina.
The Battle of Brandy Station was the largest cavalry battle of the Civil War and is considered the start of the Gettysburg campaign.
Text from the marker:
F11
Battle of Brandy Station
Here on 9 June 1863, the largest cavalry battle in North America occurred when 9,500 troopers fought 8,000 cavalrymen under Union Brig. Gen. Alfred Pleasonton. This daylong battle, the opening engagement of the Gettysburg campaign, erupted when the Federal attack surprised Stuart and his men. The Confederates prevented the Union cavalry from learning the intentions of Gen. Robert E. Lee, who had begun marching his infantry to the Shenandoah Valley to invade the North. For the first time in the Civil War, however, the Federal cavalry proved itself a match for its opponents.
Erected 1995 by Department of Historic Resources.