In the three weeks leading up to the Battle of Brandy Station, J.E.B. Stuart held three reviews, exasperating his troops and disclosing his whereabouts to Union scouts

One of the most interesting facts about the Battle of Brandy Station is that in the three weeks leading up to the Battle of Brandy Station, J.E.B. Stuart held three reviews, exasperating his troops and disclosing his whereabouts to Union scouts. J.E.B. Stuart gathered his cavalry for inspection on the southern banks of the Rappahannock River on May 22, June 5, and June 8. But the inspection of ten thousand warriors needed a great deal of effort from both man and beast. Stuart also enjoyed extravagance, so on June 5 he added a great party and a mock battle demonstration to the evaluations. Union officers carefully studied these performances. General John Buford of the Union had his concerns about the Confederate cavalry assembling close to Culpeper, Virginia, and those fears were confirmed by the sound of cannon fire from the fictitious fight.

The day before the fight, on June 8, during the review, Confederate Gen "no doubt the Yankees...have witnessed from their signal stations, this show in which Stuart has exposed to view his strength and aroused their curiosity. They will want to know what is going on and if I am not mistaken, will be over early in the morning to investigate". They will be interested in finding out what is happening and, if I'm not mistaken, will visit early in the morning to look into it." Pleasonton continued to believe that Stuart was in Culpeper, thus Jones was mistaken about the Federal intelligence, but he would undoubtedly run into the enemy in the morning.