The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-01-19

The Confederate Cava7rymal

| The Confederate Cavaaryman.
an or1, PORTRAIT OF MAJoR-GESERAL J. E. B..
STUART PRESENTED TO THE STATE OF yIR-
GINIA-GoyERNoR EEMPER's LETTER OF AC-
CEPTANCE. ; stl
General Fitzhugh Lee, representing a
number OF gentlemen, has presented to the
State Of Virginia portrait OF the gallant
Confederate cavalryman, Maior-General j.
E. B. Stuart. The following is General
Lees presentation letter and Governor
Kemper's note OF welcome and acceptance !:
R1cuLAND, STAFFORD COUNTY, VA, !
January Is, 1877. )
To His E1cellency James L. Renper, Co..
ernoT of Virginia.: ,'"@
Sir,-In behalf of the gentlemen whose
names are herewith appended have the
honor to present to the State, through its
Executive, portrait of Major-General j..
E. B. Stuart.
The motive prompting this donation upon
our part is to record OUR reverence and af-
fection for the memory Of the brilliant COM
mander of the cavalry corps Of the Army OF
Northern Virginia, and to declare the graft
fcation felt at the knowledge that picture
OF him hangs in the Capitol Of his native
State among those of so many OF her dis
tinguished sons. ~.
General Stuart was born in the county OF
Patrick. He graduated at the United States
Military Academy at West Point in 1854,
and served for seven years as lieutenant
of cavalry in the United States army. When
the ";War between the States" broke out
he promptly resigned his commission, ten
dering his services to and linking his for
tunes with those OF. his State. r On, the 9th
of May, 1894. whilst the historic Army, OF
Northern Virginia was holding fast TO- the
lines OF Spotsylyania Courthouse, the cayal,
ry corps Of the enemy, consisting OF three
divisions Of three brigades. each-the former
being commanded, by: Torbert, Gregg, and
marched past its right flank, going in the
direction of the then Virginia Central rail
road, and having, If possible, Richmond as
its objective point. This force amounted to
some ten thousand mounted men and six
batteries OF regular artillery, and, to use the
language employed by Its commander in his
Official report, ssthe three divisions march
ing con the same road" made a column
of about thirteen miles in length"
A brigade Of North Carolina cavalry, un-
der the gallant General Gordon, was order
ed to harass the rear of this corps, whilst
Lomax's and Wickham's brigades, OF my
division, marching with greater rapidity by
another road, were thrown across his route
tat Yellow Tavern, six miles from Rich.
mond. In the unequal combat which took
place between my seven regiments s-aggre'
eating about $500 troopers-and this large
corps Of General Sheridan, General Stuart
fell, mortally wounded, upon the 11th OF
May, and upon the 10Th, in the city OF Rich.
mond, furled his battle-fag forever. we
feel confident, sir, that as long as Virginia
remains true to her past traditions, and
Justly values the qualities that elevate man
among his fellows, chivalry, heroism, yalor,
and devotion, SO long will the memory OF
the great cavalryman be held inviolable and
his picture be priced by generations OF her
sons and daughters. . :. -.
= With great respect, ! am very truly
yours, ::g F1TzHUGH LEE.