BRANDY. 422 BRANK. is a factitious proJiul uiaile from grain or potato spirit, ill America, brandy is made not only from fermented graix>s, but also from apples (see Apple Brandy), pears, cherries, and peaches. For the production of brandy in the United States, see Liquors, Fekjientei) .xn Distilled, Statistics of. See also, Distilled Liquors; Alcohol; and Alcohol, Physiological Ef- fects OF. BRANDY STATION. A village in Culpep- er County, Va.. al>out 50 miles southwest of Alexandria (population, in lilOO, about 225), the scene of considerable fighting during the Civil War. Engagements between Federal and Confederate forces occurred here on August 20, 1862, when the Federals made a notable cavalry charge; on June 9, 18G3, when the Confederate general, Stuart, at the head of a cavalry force of about 10,000, won a tactical victory over a somewliat inferior force of Federal cavalry under Generals Pleasonton and Buford. the former los- ing 485 in killed, wounded, and missing, the latter, 007; on September 13, 1863. and on Oc- tober 11, 1803. Various other skirmishes of minor importance were fought in this vicinity during the Chancellorsville and Gettysburg cam- paigns. Tiie engagement of .June 9, 1863. was of considerable strategic importance. It is often called the battle of Beverly's Ford. BRAN'DYWINE', Battle of. A battle fought at Chadd's Ford, on the Brandywine Creek, September 11, 1777. during the American Kevolution, between about 18,000 British under General Howe, and about 11.000 Americans under General Washington. Half the British army under Lord Cornwallis attained the right Hank of the Americans by a forced march of eighteen miles along the Lancaster Koad. and drove back the American right under General Sullivan, while Knyphausen, with the other half, crossed at Chadd's Ford and forced the American centre and left, under Greene and Wayne respectively, back toward Dilworth and Chester. The Ameri- cans, though defeated, withdrew in good order, and the three divisions safely efVected a junction at Chester. The American loss was estimated at about 1000. the British at about GOO. Howe's victory enabled him to occupy Philadel])hia. with little 'resistance, on the 26th, the Continental Congress adjourning first to Lancaster and then to York. Lafayette was severely wounded in this engagement. Consult Carrington, Battles of the American Revolution (Xew York, 1877). BRANTOBD. A borough in a town of the same name. New Haven County, Conn., 8 miles southeast of New Haven, on L<mg Island Sound, and on the New York. New Haven and Hartford Kailroad (ilap: Connecticut, D 4). It lias a good harbor for small craft and raanufactiires locks and malleable iron fittings. Oyster-cul- ture and granite-quarrying also are important industries. The borough contains the Blackstone Memorial Library, a line marble structure. Bran- ford, originallv "called Totoket. was settled in 1643 by a company from Wethersfield, JIass.. and another company.' headed by Rev. Abraham Pier- aon (q.v.). from" Southampton, L. I., and derived its name from Brentford. England. In 1007 most of the settlers, dissatisfied with tlie union of the Connecticut and New Haven Colonies, moved in a bodv to Newark, N. J., but others gradually came in and took their places. In 1685 Branford received its patent from the Colonies. The bor- ough was incoi])orated in 1893. Population (town), in 1890, 4460; in 1900, 5706; borough, in 1900, 2473. Consult Lambert, History of the Colony of }icw Haieii (New Haven, 1838). BRANG'TONS, The. The name of char- acters in the novel Evclitta, by Miss Burney. They are a household in whom en-y and spite are common characteristics. BRANCrWAINE. The nurse of Yseult in the legend of Trixlan mid Ysciilt, modifications of which may be found in Matthew Arnold, Swin- burne, and Tennyson. In Wagner's music drama of Tristcni itnd Isolde the spelling is Brangiine. She is, originally, the 'Venus of the Northern Seas.' BRANICKI, bra-nitslce, Jan Clemens ( 16S8-1771 ) . A Polish hetinan, a great-grand-son of the celebrated Czarneeki, and the last of a distinguished line of nobles. After a period of service in the French Army he returned to Poland (1715), where he joined the league against Au- gustus II. He became successively starost, stand- ard-bearer, hetman (1735), waywode of Cracow, and grand hetman ; and upon the death of Augus- tus III. was invited to accept the crown of Po- land. But the monarchical [larly represented by the Czartoryskis controlled the Polish Diet of 1704, and bj' their command Branicki was seized, deprived of his honors and dignities, and ban- ished from the country. He fled to Hungary, but returned upon the accession of his brother-in-law, Poniatowski, to the throne, and thereafter lived in retirement. BRANK ( probably akin to Ir. brancas, halter, pillory, Dutch praiu/er, fetter), or Scold's Bridle. An instrument formerly used in Eng- land and Scotland for the punishment of noto- rious scolds, and of women convicted of street brawling, or of insulting public officers. It was an iron framework which was placed on the head, inclosing it in a kind of cage. In front was an iron plate, sometimes covered with spikes, which entered the culprit's mouth and prevented the use of the tongue. With this l)ridle on her head, the victim was led through the streets or chained to a pillory or market cross. On market days the instrument was exhibited in front of the house of the officer authorized to use it, as a warning to vixens. In some parts of Britain it continued to he used well into the last century.
