, 1885-12-23
can. }. !. ). sruAars
Last Moment. Of tho Famoa. confsdsr-
atn LnndaEA PathrtIn soens.

Last Moments Of tho Famous confsder-
ate Leader-A Pathetic sosns.
Stuart received his wound during the
Wilderness campaign, which opened
May I, 1884. Soon after the generals
death Mai. Mcclellan wrote the following
letter to Mrs. Stuart: about 4 O'Clock
the enemy (at Yellow TAVERN suddenly
threw a brigade OF cavalry upon our ex-
IRENE left, attacking our whole line at the
same time. As he always did, the general
hastened to the point where the greatest
danger threatened-the point against
which the enemy directed the
charge. My horse was so much exhausted
by my severe ride in the morning that /
could not keep pace with him, but Capt.
g.. w. Dorsey, OF Company X, First Nir-
glnia cavalry, gave me the particulars
that follow.
The enemy's charge captured our bat
terry on the left Of the line, and drove back
almost the entire left. Where Capt. Dor
sey was stationed, Immediately on the
telegraph road, about eighty men had col
lected, and among these the general threw
himself, and by his personal example held
them steady, while the enemy charged en-
tirely past their position. With these men
he fired into their flank and rear as they
passed him, in advancing and retreating,
for they were met by II mounted charge
Of the First Virginia cavalry, and driven
back some distance. As they retired, one
man who had been dismounted in the
charge. and was running out ON foot,
turned rs he passed the general, and, dis
charging his pistol, inflicted the fatal
wound. When Capt. Dorsey discovered
that the general was wounded, he came
at once TO his assistance, and e~ndeavored
10 lead him to the rear, but the generals
horse had become 30 FESTIVE and unman-
ageable that he insisted upon being taken
down and allowed to rest against II tree.
IN M EXPOSED SITUATION.
when this was done, Capt. Dorsey sent
for another horse. While waiting, the
general ordered him u leave him, and re-
turn to his men and drive back the
enemy. He said he feared that he was
mortally wounded, and could be of no
more service. Capt. Dorsey told him that
he could not obey hat order; Tint he
would rather sacrifice his life than cave
him until he had placed him out OF NIL
danger. The situation was an exposed
one. Our men were sadly scattered, and
there was hardly a handful OF men be-
tween that little group and the advancing
enemy An ambulance was procured
and by great exertions Stuart was carried
OF the field. The wound, which was In
the kidneys, gave him excruciating pain.
A he was driven from the field he
noticed the disorganized ranks of lis re-
treating men and called out to them: Go
back go backi and do your duty, as I have
done mine, and our country viii be safe.
Go backl go back l had rather die than
be whipped"
Stuart was taken to Richmond, where,
on the morning Of the 18th Maj. Mcclellan
saw him as he lay dying. He was calm
and composed, In the full possession Of
his mind. sour conversation was how
ever interrupted by paroxysms OF suffer
ing. He directed me to make the proper
disposal Of his official papers, and to send
his personal effects TO his wife. He then
aid:
al wish you to take one of my horses,
and Venable the other. Which is the
heavier riderS'
Il replied that l thought Venable was.
Then said he let Venable have tho
gray horse, and you take the bay
THE DYING MANS INSTRUCTIONS.
Soon again he spoke;
~'You will find In my hat u small Con-
federate flag, which a lady of Columbia,
S. c., sent me, with the request that 1
would wear 1t upon my horse In q battle
and return it to her. Send 1t to her.
II was at loss how 10 interpret these ln-
structions, for l had never seen any such
decorations upon his hat. But upon ex-
aiming II the flag was found within its
lining. stained with the sweat Of bis brow,
and among his papers 1 found the letter
which had conveyed the request.
Again he said: My spurs which l have
always worn in battle l promised to give
to Mrs. Lilly Lee, OF Shepherdstown, Va.
My sword | leave to my SON
while l sat by his sid the sound OF
cannon outside the city was heard. He
turned to me eagerly and inquired what
II meant. explained that Gracy's brig
nde and other troops had moved out
igainst the enemy's rear on the Brook
turnpike, and that Fitz Lee would en-
ieavor to oppose their advance at Meadow
bridge. He turned his eyes upward and
exclaimed earnestly, God grant that they
may be successful Then turning his
head aside, he said with a sigh:
but l must be prepared for another
world
The thought OF duty was always up
permost in his mind; Inc after listening
to the distant ~cannonading for a few mo
ments, he said; Major, Fftz Lee may
need YOU | understood his meaning,
and pressed his hand in a last farewell.
AS / left his chamber President Davis
entered. Taking the generals hand, he
asked: General, how do you feeli'
ale replied: Easy, but willing to die,
II God and my country think l nave full
filed my destiny and done my duty
During the afternoon he asked DR..
Brewer whether 1t was not possible for
him to survive the might. The doctor
frankly told him that death WIS close at
hand.
ole then said: 4 am resigned. II II be
~ n l-a ~ Ill.
wife. But Gods will be done Soon after
this he passed away.r-Book Review.