Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-05-24
DEATH OF THE REBEL GEN.
STUART.
The Death and Burial of Major Cen
eral j. Il. Ii. Stuart, FlOwcrof
Cavaliers.

|
No incident of mortality, since the fall of
the great Jackson, has occasioned more
painful regret than this. Major General
J.. e. B. Stuart, the model of Virginian
cavaliers and dashing chieftain, whose name
was a terror to the enemy, and familiar as
household in two continents, is dead,
struck down by bullet from the dastaru-
ly foe, and the whole Confederacy mourns
him. He breathed out his gallant spirit re-
| signedly, and in the full possession of
all his remarkable faculties OF mind and
body, at twenty-five minutes to eight
o'clock Thursday night, at the residence
of DR.. Brewer, relative, on Grace street,
in the presence of Drs. Brewer, Gar
nett, Gibson and Fontaine of the Generals
staff, Rev. Messrs. Peterkin and Keppler,
and circle of sorrow-stricken comrades
and friends.
We learn from the physicians in attend
| ance upon the General, that his condition
during the day was very changeable, with
occasional deliriunI, and other unmistakable
symptoms of speedy dissolution. In the
moments of delirium the Generals mind
wandered. and like the immortal Jackson
(whose spirit, we trust, his has joined,) in
the lapse of reason his faculties were busted
with the details of his command. He re-
viewed, in broken sentences, all his glori-
the Peninsula, beyond the Potomac, and
upon the Rapidan, quoting from his orders
and issuing new ones to his couriers, with
last Injunction to ''make haste"
About noon Thursday, President Davis
visited his bedside, and spent some fifteen
minutes in the dying chamber of his favor
ite chieftan. The President, taking his
hand, said, General, how do You feel"
He replied, Easy, but willing to die, if
God and my country think l have fulfilled
my destiny and done my duty" As even
ing approached the Generals delirium in
creased, and his mind again wandered to
the battle-tields over which he had fought,
then off to wife and children, and off again
been sent for his wife, who was in the ccun-
try, with the injunction to make all haste,
as the General was dangerously wounded.
Some thoughtless, but unauthorized person,
thinking probably to spare his wife pain,
altered the dispatch to "slightly wounded"
and it was thus she received it, and did not
make that haste which she otherwise would
have done to reach his side.
AS evening wore OH the paroXysms of
pain increased, and modification set in
rapidly. Though suffering the greatest
agony at times, the General was calm, and
applied to the wound, with his own hand,
ing the evening he asked DR.. Brewer how
long he thought he could live, and whether
it was possible for him to survive through
the night. The doctor, knowing he did not
desire to be buoyed by false hopes, told him
frankly that death, the last enemy, was rap
idly approaching. The General nodded,
and said, IL am resigned if it be Gods will;
but / would like to live to see my wife.
But Gods will be DONE" Several times he
reused up and asked if she had come.
To the doctor, who sat holding his wrist,
and counting the fleeting, weakening pulse,
he remarked, doctor, suppose am GO
ing fast now. 1t will soon be over. But
Gods will be done. / hope l have fulfilled
my destiny to my country and my duty to
my God"
At half-past seven o'clock it was evident
to the physicians that death was setting its
clammy seal upon the brave, opent row of
the General, and told him so-asked if he
had any last messages to give. The Cen
eral, with mind perfectly clear and pos
sessed, then made disposition of his staff
and personal effects. To Mrs. Gen. r. E. Lee
he directed that the golden spurs be given as
dying memento of his love and esteem of
her husband. 10 his staff officers lie gave
his horses. So particular was he in small
things, even in the dying hour, that he en-
pHdblCdlly cAulDlJcu anu uluSJIdICu Jnc
ruling passion strong in death. To one of
his staff, who wps heavy built man, he
said, you had better take the larger
horse; he will carry you better" Other
mementoes he disposed of in similar
manner. To his young son he left his glo-
rious sword.
His worldly matters closed, the eternal
interests of his soul engaged his mind.
Turning to the Rev. Mr.. Peterkin, of the
Episcopal church, and of which he was an
exemplary member, he asked him to sing
the hymn commencing,
"Rock of ages cleft for me, -a
Let me hide myself in thee,"
he joining in with all the voice his strength
would permit. He then joined in prayer
with the ministers. Tot doctor he again
said, ~ am going fast now; | am resigned;
Gods will be DONE" Thus died General j.
| E. B. Stuart.
His wife reached the house of death and
mourning about ten o'clock on Thursday
night, about one hour aud a half after disso-
luton, and was, of course, plunged into the
greatest grief by the announcement that
death had interviewed between the an
nouncement of the wounding of the Gen
eral and her arrival.
A CI,fcanO Alderman Sells Him.