The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-08-05
GEN. J. E. B. STUART.
CIPTATN Il. y. FRA YSERS TRIBUTE
TO HIS MEMORY
Speech Prepared TO be Delivered at the
Dedication of the Stuart Monument at
yellow Tavern-authentic biography Of
the Great Cavalry Leader.

yellow Tavern-Authentic biography of
the Great Cavalry Leader.
On the 18Th day Of June Last. ihe mon.
ument erected to the memory Of the late
General J + b. Stuart was dedicated at
yellow Tavern, the spot where he TEL:
Among those who were to have delivered
addresses on that occasion was Captain
II Il. Ffayser. OF S,uart's staff. but
owing 10 The heightened proceedings,
and The laicncss of the hour, he was pre-.
vented from speaking. His address,
however. was really an authentic sketch
of the gallant cavalry leader, and as il is
both exceedingly interesting and instruct
i've i, is reproduced, as follows:
Mr. Preadcnt my Comrades and Copntry.
man.
We are here to-day TO honor the boy Of
Laurel Hill and the hero OF more than a
hundred battles. by dedicating TO his
memory an transformations granite shaft
to mark the spot upon which he fell
MORALLY wounded little more than
twenty four years ago while defending
the city of Richmond.
The name of James Ewcn broEn
Stuart has already been inscribed ndelibly
upon the pages Of history, and his Illus
tIious deeds are known 10 all civilized
nations His career was briet, bur hrilli-
ant az the meteor that flashes athwart
the heavens aud leaves'iu its track reful-
gent light. Our hero was born AT La0rcl
Hill. Patrick county, Virginia, on the 9Th
day Of February, 1888, and fell on this
field the nth day Of May, 1854. In this
short period of thirty-one years, four
months and twelve DAYS he won a glori-
Gus and imperishable name and one that
posteriiv will delight 10 cherish and
honor for his noble attributes and
his transcendent military achievements.
Itwould be supererogation in me to follow
this sublime man from his birth place
through the school room at Wytheville,
Emory and Henry, at West Point, and
the trackless forest in pursuit Of the red
man for the protection of the early set
tiers on the frontiers in the great West
ern wilds. or the conspicuous part he
took in all the campaigns in orr late civil
war until he fell or this field and now
known to every intelligent school boy.
He received a thorough military educa-
ton at West Point graduating thirteen
in a class of fOrty-siX me mbers He hest
tated when about to leave his alma mater,
whether he would pursue the law or arms
az a profession He finally chose the
latter, and received commission as
brevet second-lieutenant in the regiment
of mounted riflemen, then serving in
Texas. dated July LIST, 1884, and he first
rendered active service in an expedition
against the Apache Indians in "a portion
of The country that was little knOwl at
the time. In lhis march the Muscalero
Apeches were forced 20 flee across the
Rio Grande into Mexico. II would con-
sumo too much time for me u give an
account Of the skirmshes, scouts and
hardships of this expedition. That YOU
may know how well this great
leader We are hOnOring to-day
acquitted himself, We will mention here
what General J ; SimOnsOn, his com
manding officer at the time, SAYS about
him: Lieutenant Stuart was brave and
gallant, always prompt in the execution
of orders, and reckless of danger and eX-
posure. considered him at that time
one Of the most promising young officers
in the United States Army This is,
indeed. a high compliment when taken
in connection with the large number of
Young officers serving 1t that time in the
army. believe tie first fight in which
Stuart was engaged was with band OF
Com mche Indians while croseing Pea
Gus river.
In the spring Of 1855 he was transfer
red To the First Regiment United states
Cavalry with the rank of second lieuten-
ant. In December of the same year he
was promoted to Oe first lieutenant In
his regiment. With this rank and in this
regiment on the 2alh day of July, 1857,
upou the north fork Of SOlOmOn's river,
he was engaged in a very severe battle
with ,hree hundred Cheyenne warriors,
in which he was shot in the breast, and
the ball was never extracted There was
the same yalor exhibited in this engage
mpnt that he evinced in all subsequent
ones. He acted as volunteer aid to Lieu
tenant Colonel Robert l. Lee in the sup
preston of the John Brown instruction
at HarpeI's Ferry and in aparley with old
Ossawatomie," at the engine house
where he and his followers had taken
shelter. Stuart says approached the
door in the presence of perhaps two
thousand spectators and told Mr. smith
that had "a communication Tor HIM from
Col Lee lie opened the door about
four inches, and placed his body against
the crack. with carbine in his hand.
Hence his remark after his capture that
he could have wiped me out like mos
quito. When Smith first came to the
door | recognized Old Ossawatomie
Blown, who had given us 50 much
trouble in Kansas No one present but
myself could have performed that ser
vice"
In March. 1861, Ii utenant Stuart OBJ
tanned a two months Through, in order
that he might be able to direct his own
course in the event of his State seeding,
and with the view of returning TO Nir-
ginia or removing with his family to
Fort Lyon as soon as there was some de-
cided action of his State. We first learned
of the ordinance of secession az Fort
Riley, but his leave of absence had not
at that time expired But he at once re.
moved with his family to st. Louis, and
started down the river on steamboat for