134
T H E
AGLE THE
the same year, he was promoted to Colonel of Cavalry. Two months later he was given command of a Brigade, and within a year he became a Major:General of a l tavalry Division. Such rapid promotion at the hands of men,
like Jackson and Lee, is a standing record of the remarkable ability as a leader of Cavalry of J. E.
B.
Stuart,
who
was known
by
his
troop as “Jeb " Stuart. In a letter to President Davis, General Johnston recommended Stuart for promotion in the following terms: " He is a rare man, wonderfully endowed by nature with the qualities necessary for an officer of Light Oamlry. Oalni, firm, acute, active, and enterprising. }. know of no one more competent than he to estimate occurrences before him at their true value. ” In spite of the numerous
battles and en-
gagements in whichStuart-‘s cavalry were sucCCszul, it is, perhaps, his famous reconnais sauces by which Stuart is best known. The first of these remarkable raids occurred from the lath to the .5th June, 1&62, when Stuart led his brigade, including artillery, round the right of McGlellan’s armythen inv :sting Rich— mond, passing across his communications and returning by his left to Richmond. The object Of this reconnaissance was primarily to gain intelligence of the enemy‘s
movements,
and
to find out if there was “any indication of a movement towards their right (north). Stuart’s force consisted of 1,200 cavalry and two guns." Starting
from
Richmond,
Stuart
moved
north in order to create the impression that his force was destined to reinforce Jackson and it was not until the following day that he ,- immunicated
his
plans to his regimental
commanders. As soon as he turned east, he encountered opposition, but brushing this
he decided that the bold course of pushing on round the Federal camps was the less risky alternative. ln pursuing the latter course he had to cross the River Chickahominy, now swol~ len by recent rains, and the force was delayed some seven hours before the crossing was effected, only just in time to avoid an attack from the Federal troops which had collecte d on the north bank. The ('reatest perils of the expedition were new safely passed, and
cellor’sville, Lee appears to have made his one
mount his cavalry, and upset all the plans of
known as the Wilderness campaign, in which Stuart met his death. The enemy charged and captured his battery, driving back the left portion of his cavalry in disorder Stuart personally rallied about eighty men, and with these he fired into the flank and rear of the Federal squadrons as they passed his position in advancing and when driven back by a counter-charge of the first Virginia cavalry. As they retired, one man, who had lost his horse and was running on foot, turned as he passed the General, and firing his pistol, inflicted the fatal wound. That Stuart’s loss was irreparable to the confederates, was the opinion of all. General Jones, who had been put under arrest and removed from the command of his brigade by Stuart, bears witness to the respect and admiration in which he held his former lead-
its return journey to Richmond. The results \iere iinpot taut. The information obtained in this reconnaissance was most valuable, and Stuart brought in with him to Richmond 105 prisoners, 260 horses, besides having destroy-
the Federal army in Maryland. The results of this second strategical reconnaissance roused President Lincoln to action. He writes to General McClellan, the chief‘of the Federal forces : “ Stuart‘s cavalry outmarched ours, having certainly done more marked service on the Peninsula and everywhere since. " Lincoln at once proceeded to organise the northern cavalry to enable it to compete successfully with Stuart’s, and from this time we see cavalry brigades and even divisions meeting each other in the.
ed much stores, etc, of the enemy. The only
field unsupported by infantry, each striving
the force had only tr avoid hostile camps on
casualty in Stuart's command was one officer From that date until the day of his death MajorGeneral “ Jeb ” Stuart commanded the
to establish its superiority over the other. Early in 1863, many cavalry actions were fought and the best known of which were at Kelly’s Ford and Brandy Station, between
Cavalry Division Of Lee‘s army, and every
'Culpepper Court House and the Rappahanock
killed.
report of this latter officer brings to notice
the assistance rendered him by his cavalry under their famous leader, of whom he re— cords “ he never brought me a piece of false information.” in October of the same year, after the Battle of Sharpsburg, Stuart’s cavalry was
enjoying
a well—earned
period of rest at
Charlestown. On the filth Stuart prepared for another raid, selecting 600 men from each of his three brigades. Again secrecy as to the destination was observed.
paign which culminated in his defeat at GettysburghedirectedStuarttopassroundtherearof the Federal forces with three cavalry brigades, crossing the Potomac between the enemy and Washington. The object of this reconnaissauce was to “ keep Lee properly advised of the enemy’s movements. " Although Stuart carried out his orders, this raid was strategicallya failure, At ltockville he captured a large train of supply wagons intended for Meéde’s army Encumbered by these and nu-
Ooncentrat
merous prisoners, his march was delayed,
jug at Darksville, this force of18,000 men moved north across the River Potomac to Chambersburg, from there to Gettysburg, and returned to the Virginian bank of the river by White’s Ford near Leesburg. From Chambersburg, Stuart’s march is one of
his despatch riders on several occasions failed to reach theirdestination, and in consequence Stuart’s cavalry did not arrive in time
would have been of incalculable value.
. On the 4th May, 1864, commenced what is
er.
On hearing of his death, Jones turned to
their Assistant Adjutant General and said, “ You know I had little love for Stuart and he loss the army has ever sustained, except the death of Jackson.” Such a testimony from General Jones is of higher value than anything a friend could say. What Jackson was as a leader of a division and an army, Stuart equalled him as a leader of cavalry.
On May 20th, General Lee made the following official announcement of J. E. B Stuart’s heroic death : — “ Among the gallant soldiers who have fallen in this war, General Stuart was second to none in valour, in zeal, and in unflinching devotion to his country. His achievements form a conspicuous part of the history Of this army, with which his name and service will be forever associated. To military
capacity ofa high order and to the nobler
to be of service to Lee at the Battle of Gettys
virtues of the soldier, he added the brighter
burg. In spite of the consternation he caused among the Federal leaders, there is little doubt that on this occasion his cavalry division would have been of greater service in co-Operation with the remainder of Lee’s
graces of a pure life guided and sustained by
the most remarkable on record.
cumbered with artillery and captured horses in twenty-seven home he had marched eighty
army than it
miles, and had forced the passage of the Poto-
sound judgment of Stonewall Jackson, who
mac river under the very eyes OfSUneriOp
had recently been killed at’the Battle of Chan—
Though en-
great error; of the war in not retaining his
cavalryat hand.at a time when its. assistance
had just aslittle for me; buttha’t is the greatest
river. In June of this year, when Lee was making preparations for the Maryland cam-
aside he moved on to the Federal line of supply,
Finding italmost impossible to return b/ the same route he had come, owing to a swollen
'135
forties. His only casualty was one man wounded. Besides destroying much public and rail road property and captu ring many important officials, Stuart brought 1,200 horses to re-
destroying wagon trains, railway and tele—
graph lines, as well as stores of supplies.
EAGLE
river and to hostile concentrations in his rear,
was When detached on this
strategical reconnaissance.
Deprived of the
the Christian’s faith and hope. The mysterious hand of an allwise God has removed him from the scene of his usefulness and fame. His grateful countrymen will mourn his loss and cherish his memory. To his comrades-in-arms he has left the proud re-
collections of his deeds and the inspiring influence of his example”