5. The Battle of Middleburg, June 17-19, 1863
Middleburg lies in the center of the Virginia horse country, known for the surrounding open country and large horse farms. In 1863 it was a critical position from which to defend the gaps in the mountains to the west, affording access to the Shenandoah Valley. The day after the Battle of Aldie, Gregg’s troops advanced to Middleburg, where a skirmish had occurred during the previous day’s fighting. Gregg encountered reinforced pickets in the town, and Stuart commanded a strong defensive position on a ridge to the west of town. Gregg cleared the town of the Confederate pickets after strong resistance but called for reinforcements before attempting to force Stuart from his ridge. The battle for the control of Middleburg raged through the afternoon of June 19, in heat which approached 100°.
Confederate troops were outflanked by a maneuver led by Union General John Buford. Buford later performed a critical role in the fighting on the first day of the Battle of Gettysburg. Outnumbered and outflanked, Stuart finally withdrew his forces late in the day. The Union lost about 100 men, some to the oppressive heat. Confederate losses were around 40 men, among them Stuart’s chief of staff, a Prussian officer name Heros von Borcke. His wound was sufficiently serious to deny Stuart his services for the rest of the Gettysburg Campaign. The Battle of Middleburg led to the Confederate withdrawal, but remained inconclusive, since by that time Lee’s army was already mostly to the north, advancing through Maryland toward Pennsylvania.