The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1886-01-07
GEN. ]. +. B. sTUART's DEATH.
Last Moments of the Famous Confederate
Leader-A Pathetic Scene.

Last Moments of the Famous Confederate
Leader-A Pathetic Scene.
Stuart received his wound during the
Wilderness campaign, which opened
May, 4, 1864. Soon after the generals
death, Maj. Mcclellan wrote the follow.
ing letter 10 Mrs. Stuart: "About 4
o'clock the enemy lat Yellow Tavern)
suddenly threw n brigade Of cavalry
upon our extreme left, attacking oul
whole line at the same time. AS he
always did, the general FASTENED to the
point where the greatest danger threaten
ed-the point against which the enemy
directed the mounted charge. My horse
was so much exhausted by my severe
ride in the morning that l could not
keep pace with him, but Capt. G. w.
Dorsey, of company X, First Virginia
cavalry, gave me the particulars that
follow:
"The enemy's charge captured our
battery on the left Of the line, and drove
back almost the entire left. Where
Capt. Dorsey was stationed, Immediately
on the telegraph road, about eighty men
had collected, and among these the gen.
eral threw himself, and by his personal
example held them steady, while the
enemy charged entirely past their posi-
ton. With these men he fred into their
flank and rear as they passed him, in
advancing and retreating, for they were
met by mounted charge of the First
Virginia cavalry, and driven back some
distance. AS they retired, one man who
had been dismounted in tho charge, and
was running out on foot, turned az he
passed the general, and, discharging his
pistol, inflicted the fatal wound. When
Capt. Dorsey discovered that the general
was wounded, he came at once to his
assistance, and endeavored to lead him to
the rear, but the generals horse had
become so restive and unmanageable that
he insisted upon being taken down and
allowed to rest against tree.
"When this was done, Capt. Dorsey
sent for another horse. While waiting,
the general ordered him to leave him, and
return to his men and drive back the
enemy. He said be feared that he was
mortally wounded, and could be of no
more service. Capt. Dorsey told him
that he could not obey that order; that
he would rather sacrifice his life than
leave him until he had placed him out of
all danger. The situation was an expos
ed one. Our men were sadly scattered,
and there was hardly handful Of men
between that little group and the advanc-
ing enemy. An ambulance was pro-
cured and by great exertons Stuart was
carried off the field. The wound, which
was in the kidneys, gave him excruciat'
ing pain. GAS he was driven from the
field he noticed the disorganized ranks of
his retreating men and called out to
them: $50 back 60 back |! and do your
duty, as have done mine, and our coun-
try will be safe. Go back go back I
had rather die than be whipped"
Stuart was taken to Richmond, where,
on the morning of the 18th Maj. McClel-
Ian saw him as be lay dying. He was
calm and composed, in the full possession
of his mind. Our conversation was
however interrupted by paroxysms of
suffering. He directed me to make the
proper disposal of his official papers, and
to send his personal effects to his wife.
He then said:
"'I wish you to take one of my horses,
and Venable the other. Which is the
heavier rider?'
"I replied that 1 thought Venable was.
"'Then,' said he, 'let Venable have the
gray horse, and you take the bay
"Soon again be spoke:
"You will 6nd in my hat small
Confederate flag, which lady of colum'
bia, S. c., sent me, with the request that
I would wear it upon my horse iu battle
and return it to her. Send it to her.
"I was at loss how to interpret these
instructions, for had never seen any
such decorations upon his hat. But
upon examining it the flag was found
within its lining, stained with the sweat
of his brow, and among his papers l
found the letter which had conveyed the
request.
"Agaiu he said: My spurs which l
have always worn in battle promised to
give to Mrs. Lilly Lee, of Shepherdstown,
va. My sword leaVe 10 my son.
"While 1 sat by his side the sound of
cannon outside the city was heard. He
turned to me eagerly and inquired what
it meant. I explained that Gracy's bri-
gade and other troops had moved out
against the enemy's rear on the Brook
turnpike, and that Fitz Lee would en-
deayor to oppose their advance at Mead
ow bridge He turned his eyes upward
and exclaimed earnestly, God grant that
they may be successful Then turning
his head aside, be said with sigh:
" But I must be prepared for another
world
"The thought Of duty was always up
permost in his mind and after listening
to the distant cannonading for a few mo-
ments, he said: Major, Fitz Lee may
..1 ,.,, ,,Jor,tooJ b;u vpao mr.