The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1888-07-07
One of the Greatest of the Cavaliers.
N. o, PicaYuno


monument was dedlca-
ted to the memory of Major General
J. E. B. Stuart, the great cavalry lea
der of the Confederate armies in Vir-
ginia, who fell on that spot in des-
perate battle against heavy odds on
the lltn of May, 1864. A memorial
hugh Lee, who participated in the ac-
tion. The ceremonies were ut the
time reported by telegraph, but the
Ricilmoud Dispatch comes With some
Interesting details.
Probably the Confederate capital was
never in such danger of capture from
the moment 1T was first beleaguered by
the hosts of the enemy to the time OF
its final fall as it was on the day OF the
fierce battle ut Yellow Tavern. At
that time Lee was confronting Grant
and his powerful army near Spot'syl-
vania Courthouse. General Butter was
pressing close upon the lines near Pc
tersburg, while Richmond, nearly strip
ped of troops, depended chiefly Tor de
Tense upon the local forces, composed
of the employees in the government
Offices and workshops. 1t was at this
critical moment that General Grant
sent out a strong force OF cavalry under
Sheridan, whose reputation as caval-
ry commander was already at its
highest, to march rapidly upon Rich
mond and capture ii before the city
could be reinforced.
On the 9Th of May, 1864, the Federal
cavalry corps was concentrated near
Fredericksburg, and on the morning
of the 9th marched by Hamilton's
Crossing 10 the Telegraph road, and
moving to the right Of General Lees
RICH, flank, marched 10 Beaver Dam
Station on the Newport News and
Mississippi Valley Railroad, and from
That point by the Louisa, or cold
Mountain Road,'' via Glen Allen, a
station on the Fredericksburg Rail
road, TO Yellow Tavern. His COM
maud consisted of three divisions un.
: der Generals Merritt, Wilson and
Gregg, numbering according to the
official returns Of the Federal army,
dated May II, 1864, $500 men in the
saddle. His brigade commanders were
Custsr, Davins, Gibbs, Davies, J. Irwin
Gregg, Mcintosh and Chapman.
General Stuart followed these seven
brigades of Sheridan with the three
brigades OF his command, viz: Ln-
max's and Wick hams of Filz Lees
division and North Carolina brigade
under General Gordon, making total
effective force Of some 5000 troopers.
On the morning of the 18th General
Stuart intercepted, at yellow Tavern,
Sheridan'5 iine Of march and succeed
ed in interposing his small force be-
tween Richmond and the Federal
cavalry. The battle was desperate and
bloody but it resulted in the saving OF
the Confederate capital at the cost OF
many a precious life. General Stuart
was mortally wounded during the last
part CT the fight aud died the next day
General Sheridan, repuised and de-
feated, abandoned his raid aud escaped
down the Chickahominy.
Governor Lie, who was himself an
eminent cavalry commander, succeed
ing Stuart, under whom he had long
served, makes this estimate OF The
military abilities of his great chief:
.tHis rank as cavalry officer will
stand the test Of time and compare
with tho career of the most famous
officers in that arm Of the service
Pappenheim, at the battle of Lutzsn
was not more impetuous than he. IL
the great Condo, who was born sol
dier, gained his reputation at 20 years
of age at Rocroy, so was Stuart con-
spicuous at almost as early an age al
Manassas. lie had a contempt OF dan
ger which characterized Seidtitz. He
had the iron will, ii no. the caution, Of
Cromwell. He was as daring and
fiery as HRupert OF the Bloody Sword"
10 every combat he was anxious, like
Charles MI Of Sweden, 10 engage in
n hand,,o. baud conflict, aud was as
gay in battle and as vigorous i'll pur-
suit as the dashing Murut he was sur
passed by none in endurance aud per
tinacity. Boot to boot and humming
one of his favcrite songs, he would
have joyfully ridden by Lord Cardi.
gan's side in the mile and "A quarter
charge down the Valley of Death
when the Light Brigade Of 600 troop
ers charged an army, 'iwhile all The
world wondered aud when the 100
all that was left of GGD--cnmn out from
the "jaws of death" and "hack from
the mouth of hell" Had he not bee,
left upon the field, amid the chatter.
smoke" their ranks would have con
tanned no better or bulder rider. Lik,
Napoleon aud StoncWall Jackson
Stuart ever recognized the great vaiu
of CELEBRITY in military movements, an'
was ever ready TO perform his part il
every campaign"