James Stuart (Known as Jeb Stuart) was the dominant cavalry officer of the Civil War until his death. General George Patton appreciated his flamboyance and charisma. Stuart provided invaluable service to the Confederate Army during the Civil War by reporting on enemy troop movements and initiating offensive thrusts opportunistically. Today, tanks in coordination with planes seek to replicate much of fluid potency of the cavalry.

 

An 1854 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy Point, N.Y. Stuart resigned his commission in defense of his state when Virginia seceded. At the First Battle of Bull Run, he distinguished himself by his personal bravery. Later in 1861 he was appointed brigadier general and placed in command of the cavalry brigade of the Amy of Northern Virginia. When General McClellan tried to capture Richmond, Stuart not only located the right flank of the invading Union Army but also provided Lee with a complete description of the size and position of the Federal Army. He rode completely around the Union troops to provide this complete description.

 

At the Battle of Fredericksburg (During December 1862) Stuart’s horse artillery rendered valuable service by checking the Federal attack. Following the death of General Stonewall Jackson at the Battle of Chacellorsville, Stuart was appointed to command the 2nd Army Corps. 

 

At the Battle of Gettysburg Stuart failed to accomplish his goal of gathering intelligence on the advancing Union Army. Stuart on his own recognizance struck out on his own. He was thwarted in returning to Lee’s camp by the opposing Northern cavalry. By the time Stuart rejoined Lee on July 2, the battle had already begun and his exhausted forces were of little help.

 

Subsequently, Stuart continued to provide accurate knowledge of the Northern troops. However, under General Philip Sheridan the union cavalry became a worthy adversary, taking offensive initiatives. Sheridan’s cavalry was part of a concerted effort by Grant to press continually the Confederate stronghold of Richmond. 

 

On May 8,1864, General Philip Sheridan boasted that if headquarters would stay out of his hair, he and his cavalry would whip Confederate General Jeb Stuart out his boots. General Grant, appreciating Sheridan’s bravery and fighting spirit, said, “Let him start right out and do it.”

 

The next morning, Sheridan set out with the most powerful cavalry force the Army of the Potomac had ever mounted, more than 10,000 troopers with 32 guns. They moved at a walk, four abreast in a column that stretched for 13 miles. Their mission was to move behind Lee’s army (which was locked in combat with Grant at Spotsylvania, Court Hose) disrupt the supply line, threaten Richmond and strike Stuart. Sheridan was so confident of success that he made no effort to hide his movements. On May 9th, Sheridan destroyed 100 railroad cars and six locomotives, one fourth of Virginia Central Railroad’s rolling stock.

 

On May 11, Stuart with 4500 men tried to get in between the Union column and Richmond. At the battle of Yellow Tavern, an abandoned inn six miles north of Richmond, the forces of Sheridan and Stuart engaged in combat. For three hours the cavalry forces fought with the outnumbered confederate troops stubbornly defending their position until at last the Union force withdrew. 

 

In the final part of the engagement, the union cavalry dismounted under the direction of George Custer. A private mortally wounded General Stuart, who was only 30 feet away. General Stuart died the next day, May 12th, 1864.

 

I thought I might include a few words of a Speech by General Fitzhugh Lee on October 28th, 1875 commemorating General Stuart. Fitz Lee was the son of Robert E. Lee. My goal is to give you both some understanding of the reverence paid to heroes of the Civil War by both sides, and also a sense of the flowery language used by gentlemen.

 

“I First Met Jeb Stuart as a cadet in the United States Military Academy where Stuart was second class man. Stuart’s distinguishing characteristics were a strict attention to his military duties, an erect soldierly bearing, an immediate and almost thankful acceptance of a challenge from any cadet to fight who might in any way feel himself aggrieved, and a clear, metallic ringing voice. 

 

I can well remember well listening with eagerness to hear him bring his company to ‘order arms, parade rest—there was so much music in his voice, and even as I speak here fancy I can almost hear it once more, sounding like the silver trumpet of the Archangel.

 

Little, gentlemen, did I imagine then that I would hear that same voice so often above the roar of battle and trampling of steeds upon so many hard fought fields—still delightfully musical, calm, and clear as of old—only perhaps a little more powerful.

 

Comrades, here in the city of Richmond, and for whose defense he fell, his pure spirit winged its way to heaven. Faith, which overcomes all things, was in his heart. After he was mortally wounded, he lay awaiting the summons of the angel of death. The bright blue eye that always beamed with laughter now looked into the very face of death without a quiver of the lid. About noon of the day of his death, President Davis visited his bedside, and in reply to his question as to how he felt, the dying hero answered, “Easy, but willing to die if God and my country think I have fulfilled my destiny and done my duty, showing that beneath the gay manners of the cavalier there was a deep, divine and religious sentiment that shone forth, illuminating the hero’s character and giving dignity to the last moments of his life.

 

“Sing, said he to the Reverend Dr. Peterkin, the worth pastor of St. James Church, the ‘Rock of ages, let me hide myself in Thee,” and the fast sinking soldier joined in with all the strength his failing power permitted. He then prayed with the friends around, and with the words I am going fast now, I am resigned, God’s will be done, ‘ the great, grand cavalry leader furled his battle flag forever.

 

In closing, General Lee expressed a wish that a statue be erected to pay tribute to General Stuart, a hero to whose name and fame it will forever stand in lofty and lasting attestation.