The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-12-10

When | saw Stuart for the nrst time
/ on that memorable morning OF Marcn
g. 1862. Immediately before the pioooy
battle OF Seven Pines. every truce Vi
| his former LONELINESS had disappeareu'
Riding his beautiful heet-footed morse
| he ras inc magnificent image from top
| TO toe OF a courageous and daunuess
cavalry leader and I felt myself afawh
10 him before we had exchanged o"e
word. Lii,
Tho General was a muscular Wen
/ built man OF somewhat over miuuie
stature. his whole appearance the very
typc of strength. activity. ana energy
FROM his open weather-beaten face, with
n nronopnced but well-prOporuoned nose
heamed eyes or shining light blue, which
in tbe course Of excitement became or
a darlx hue: the somewhat large mouth
with beautiful snowy teeth was covered by
a long fuil mustache OF light brown color.
which mingled with the reddish-brown
fun beard reaching down 10 his breast
lie wore q short open, gray jacket
with gold embroderv on a yellow col
lar. and on the sleeves as Far as they
were not covered by the gauntlets. dark
blue trousers with golden stripes, hign
boots. a wide yellow silk sash around
lts waist. ard on his head covered with
curly brown hair, a deep-brimmed' hght
gray felt hat turned up on one slde
and ornamented by black ostrich iea-
Their
stuart paid a good deal Of attention to
his general appearance, ana was ralIier
I'm favor Of a certain amount or splehuol.
He possessed a certain degree OF Vdni'y
and a good deal Of ambition. The former
was especially visible in MS assoc l0ioia
,citb ladies. which he cultivated Wherever
| be bad an opportunity, but without ever
Going further than a passing acqudih'-
ance. ,,..,o,,- cor,,,c-
TIo vas a man OF deep religious conVlc-
! lions and Of the utmost moderation. ne
neither smoked nor touched ahythihs
| stronger than tea or cofee' fis p,,..
verance in enduring fatigue was actually
astonishing, and IN that nc was ~
/ his sound sleep.
Stuart could sleep whenever, how. and
where he desired; even on horseback ne
silent sometimes during long marches. lie
used TO draw up his right leg with MS
head supported by the hand whose arm
I'm turn rested upon his leg. The reins or
his horse were then taken In charge by
the one riding alongside of him
He was great admrer OF music, ana
in our suite was always the ski'ful banJo
player and singer. Bob Sweeney, who en-
ioyed "A certain degree Of fame In his pro-
fession. and had to play for us whenever
time and occasion permitted IL.
The General not only himself under
went the greatest amount Of fatigues. but
he expected similar endurance from MS
subordinates. often, when after long
| tours of inspection or hot battles when
lasted from sunrise to sunset we had
| Just picked out a camping-ground ana
| gone 10 rest. ne suddenly remembered
| that some Well-known ladies were In the
! neighbOrhcod-i. e.. several miles away,
| and that it would he very appropriate 10
| serenade them. Then he used 20 rouse
| the companions from their slumber win
a merry laugh or call. at once vanquish-
| ing all opposition.
OF we rode at once I'm the dark. Swee-
ney with US, making the sparks ny, and
| frequently we never stopped untii we
| came upon the lines Of the enemy
Towards his subordinates outside OF his
| staff. Stuart acted often in a rough and
| fierce manner, and made demands on the
| troops which could hardly be executed.
| For this reason he was not too much
| liked with some Of his men. but a change
! took place as soon as the regiments found
| themselves IN a dangerous position-when
| the superior forces OF the enemy pressed
! forward; when the shells burst in
! masses over the heads Of the men; when
the mimic balls tore big gaps in their
ranks, and when many Of them rather
unintentional1y turned their looks back
wards.
When at such a moment the General
put in an appearance, fully composed and
with an air as II nothing had happened,
the faces of his men braoed up at once,
and the cry broke forth: Now we are
an right again, for Stuart is here" Then
frequently the secret joy broke out in
loud hurrahs, the tendency Of which the
enemy well recognized and which af-
fecfQ1 his i'm "A 0iSaRroeaDle
manner.
General Stuart had an unbounded adj
miration for our commander-in- chief, Gem
eral r. f. Lee and the latter. on his
part, gave him his unlimited confidence,
for Stuart was, in fact the eye. the ear,
the veil Of the army, and when he de-
clared that everything was all right the
army could go TO rest without fear.
The General had a contempt for danger.
which became almost a fault. Although
his good looks favored him 10 such an
extent that almost to the end of the war
he remained uninjured. The entire setting
aside Of the precauuon necessary. in my
estimation cost the lives of many men,
bers Of his suite, or brought them Sc
rious injuries.
OF the sixteen cheerful officers OF the
STAFF who formed the same when / en-
tered, more than one-half were killed
during the two years OF fighting, while
the rest suffered more or less serious in
juries.
Endowed with this unsurpassed courage
bestowed with the keen eye Of the hawk
and the lightning quickness of decision,
Stuart was a terrible opponent TO the
enemy, TO his friends the Ideal Of daring
and dauntless cavalry leader.
His combinations were exemplary, his
enterprises were planned and established
with rare exactness and elaboration, and
they were executed without hesitation and
with q daringuess that never has been
surpassed, and that often completely para
lyzed the enemy.
He never lost his head when. suddenly
and without expectation. we happened TO
be placed in a critical situation, no mat
ter how desperate our condition might
nave appeared; he always had some adj
wee and assistance, and II sometimes
we had TO give way 10 the exultant and
elated masses Of the enemy, Stuart with
absolute certainty knew how TO make use
or an advantage when the enemy during
heated pursuit exposed himself In any
way thereby Transforming a defeat into
"a glorious victory
III ne had any fault at all as a leader
II was that under adverse conditions he
could only be induced with difficulty 10
give up a position without n combat, and
that after the starting Of struggle he
defended untenable positions longer than