In October 1863, Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia pushed Union Gen. George G. Meade's Army of the Potomac back toward the fortifications around Centreville. As Meade's army marched along several roads, two corps passed through Auburn, while Lee's infantry moved near Warrenton and Gen. J.E.B. Stuart's cavalry rode ahead searching for the Federal wagon train. On October 13, as elements of Union III Corps passed through, Stuart turned back toward Lee after locating the wagon train, but after skirmishing with the III Corps he found his route to safety blocked at Auburn and hid his men in a nearby ravine until morning. He sent messengers through the lines to Lee, who ordered infantry under Gen. Richard S. Ewell to Auburn to assist. Union Gen. Gouverneur K. Warren's II Corps camped for the night across Cedar Run and prepared breakfast nearby, and Stuart's horse artillery shelled them on their hill, later called Coffee Hill, to cover his breakout as Ewell attacked from the west. Stuart then sent Col. Thomas Ruffin's 1st North Carolina Cavalry against the 125th and 126th New York Infantry regiments, but the Confederate assault was easily repulsed, and Ruffin was mortally wounded and captured. Attacked from both sides, Warren hastened his march away as Stuart also withdrew, and Warren's men later fought again that day at Bristoe Station.
