The Battle of Auburn

The first Battle of Auburn was set up when a Confederate calvary force led by Major J.E.B. Stuart decided to rest in the town of Auburn during a march to the north. But soon after stopping, scouts discovered a force of Union soldiers led by Major General William H. French.  Stuart sent some of his troops away to see if they can head the Union soldiers off, but the two forces stumbled into each other in Auburn, where Stuart and his staff at the front of the line fired a couple shots from their revolvers. The Confederates attempted to make a counterattack, but this attempt was held back by a volley of canister shot. It wasn't long before Brigadier General Lunsford L. Lomax and Major General Fitzhugh Lee (both of the Confederacy) retreated to the town of Warrenton, Virginia, leaving Stuart to wait for Confederate reinforcements while stuck in between two Union corps.

Reinforcements for Stuart didn't come until 6:45 the following morning of October 14th, when Ewell's Corp, headed by Major General Robert E. Rodes began a skirmish with the 10th New York Division of the Union. Hearing the gunshots, Stuart sent out a calvary units to cast a barrage on the Union troops, catching them by surprise. After a few more skirmishes in Auburn, Stuart and his calvary were able to successfully escape to the southeast. Battling continued until 1 PM, when the Confederates withdrew, with the victor of both battles inconclusive.

The Battles of Auburn would go on to be the first skirmishes in what would later be known as the Bristoe Campaign, where George M. Meade's Army of the Potomac did battle with Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia.