First Battle of Auburn | |||||||
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Part of the American Civil War | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
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Commanders and leaders | |||||||
William H. French | J.E.B. Stuart | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
2,000 [1] | 3,000 [1] | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
50 | |||||||
Location of the battle in Virginia |
The First Battle of Auburn was fought on October 13, 1863, between Union infantry and Confederate cavalry forces at the start of the Bristoe Campaign during the American Civil War. A Union infantry column stumbled upon a Confederate cavalry reconnaissance party and a short, inconclusive fight ensued. The Confederate cavalry withdrew in the face of the superior Union force, but a much larger body of Confederate cavalry under Maj. Gen. J.E.B. Stuart, attempting to raid a Union wagon train became entrapped by the column, forcing them to abandon the raid and hide in a ravine overnight awaiting Confederate infantry to come to their aid.