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J. E. B. Stuart |
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J. E. B. Stuart |
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 Confederate General J. E. B. Stuart. Born on February 6, 1833, James Ewell Brown ("Jeb") Stuart was one of the more colorful cavaliers in the Army of Northern Virginia. Stuart enrolled at the West Point Military Academy and graduated in 1854. His first service was the 1st US Cavalry in the Kansas territory, though he was transferred east in 1859. Then lieutenant Stuart was with the US Army force that marched to Harper's Ferry to put down the revolt begun by John Brown. Stuart participated in the capture of Brown, a violent abolitionist, who was later hung for treason. When the Civil War broke out, Stuart resigned his commission with the United States Army and offered his services to Virginia. He was given the rank of colonel of the 1st Virginia Cavalry, and assigned to the Shenandoah Valley. Stuart's war time career was marked by spectacular exploits and he became a household name In Virginia newspapers. Stuart made a name for himself at the first Battle of Bull Run where His troopers swept down on retreating Union soldiers. He was promoted to brigadier general in September, 1861, and given a brigade of cavalry to command in the Army of Northern Virginia. During the Seven Days Battles near Richmond, Stuart and his command succeeded in riding all the way around the Union Army. His ride became the subject of many news stories and a song called "Riding A Raid". In July, 1862, General Stuart became a major general and was assigned to command all of the cavalry of Lee's army. Even his most ardent admirers had a difficult time defending the general's actions during the Gettysburg Campaign. General Lee's orders to Stuart were not specific as to what he was supposed to do, so he took advantage of a confused situation to raid the Union supply lines and ride northeast around the Army of the Potomac into Pennsylvania. This happened while Lee moved his Army of Northern Virginia up the Shenandoah Valley and into Maryland and Pennsylvania. Separated by about 80 miles, Lee had no way of telling where Stuart was. Nor could Stuart use his cavalry to be Lee's "eyes and ears" to inform him of where the Union army was. General Stuart did not arrive at Lee's headquarters until long after the Battle of Gettysburg had opened, and Lee openly expressed his displeasure at Stuart for riding off and not keeping in contact with the army. On July 3rd, General Stuart moved his cavalry division eastward to attempt to get around the Union right flank and raid the Union army's supply lines. He was stopped and defeated in a pitched battle with Union cavalry three miles east of Gettysburg that afternoon. General Stuart retreated with the army back to Virginia, though he was able to recover his reputation over the next six months. When the spring of 1864 arrived, General Stuart found himself facing a new Union cavalry commander, General Philip H. Sheridan. General Sheridan was ordered by General Grant to lead a raid upon Richmond while the Union army battled with Lee's army in the Battle of the Wilderness that May. On May 11, Stuart's forces intercepted Sheridan at Yellow Tavern in front of Richmond, and the gallant cavalier was mortally wounded. Taken to a hospital in Richmond, Jeb Stuart died that next day. He is buried in Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond. His passing marked a turn of fortunes for the Confederate cavalry of Lee's army, and he is still admired today as one of the greatest cavalry commanders of the Civil War. |