The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1896-03-18
SOLDIERS BUDGET.
Jeb Stuart's Own.

suddenly acquired fame in part to the
Black Horse Cavalry episode of the
first battle OF Bull Run. Yet be had
nothing to do with The Black Horse
Cavalry proper, which stampeded the
defeated soldiers on the wild retreat
from that field. He had much to do with
troopers mounted upon black steeds,
and be had more to do with starting
the great panic in the Union ranks
than anN other subordinate in the
Southern army.
The real b ack Horse Cavalry at Bull
Run won cheap glory by CHASING the
retreatng mob snd spreading terror
among those who got away as well as
among the captives. ANY excuse was
better than none, and 80 the vanquished
declared that " masked batteries " and
the terrible "Black Horse riders had
given them their Waterloo. The
Wanted horsemen became heroes in
the South and were rated terrible fel.
lows in the n rth. In time il came to
light that Stuart commanded cavalry
regiment at Bull Run and personally
led in decisive charge the only horse
back fighters on that field. Moreover,
the troopers he led that day rode black
lowed, and he bt came king of the rid
ing clans in Virginia.
Stuart was an officer in the old army.
He it was who advised John Brown to
surrender at Harper's Ferry. He had
known Brown under another name in
Kansas, and when he told him that his
abolition raiders would be bayoneted if
they showed fight the old man ex-
claimed, "You know, lieutenant, we
are not afraid of bullets" The Black
Horse Cavalry was in the John Brown
affair also. The escort of Virginia mi
litia guarding the prisoners was taken
from that once notorious command
Those troopers belonged to company
formed from the sons of the F. f. VS.,
on June Is. 1859, the anniversary of
Waterloo. A company or squadron of
these men, mounted upon black horses,
was with Stonewall Jackson when he
seized Harper's Ferry, in 1861. The
same band was at Bull Run in an in
dependent body, and after the retreat
began harassed the frightened soldiers
on the road to Washington.
Stuart's command at Bull Run con-
sisted of the First Virginia Cavalry,
numbering about 300 sabers. The COM
panies of Carter and HOgue were
mounted on black horses, and at the
crisis in the battle on the Henry house
hill, in plain sight OF both armies,
Stuart led these two companies in a
charge upon the supports of the Union
batteries at that point. These horse
men struck the Fire Zouaves and sent
them flying from the field. Owing to
the glaring uniforms of the Zouaves,
their flight was taken for a signal that
the day was lost, and the panic rapidly
spread among other troops.
And the blow given on Henry House
Hill was not the only service of Stuart
in the Bull Run campaign. His First
Virginia troopers masked the with
drawal of Johnston's army from the
Shenandoah Valley to march to Bull
Run. Afterward they galloped to
Manassas and saved the day. When he
had become great commander, john
ston wrote to Stuart: Chow can l
eat, sleep or rest in peace without you
upon the outpost?"
In the fall of 1861 Stuart was made
chief of Cavalry Corps, comprising
six regiments. His own First Virginia
chung to his standard. In the battles
on the Peninsula the Confederate cav
airy played subordinate part as foil
to the few Union squadrons in McClel-
lan's army. In front of Richmond both
sides had long lines to guard, and the
cavalry was scattered on outpost duty.
Stuart's second fame-raising exploit was
the first great raid of the war. 1t grew
out of his outpost service after Lee
took command of the Confederate army.
Lee gave Stuart orders to reconnoiter
the right of McClellan's line and see
how far it extended toward Fredericks
burg, and is strength. He was not tC
fight, but to retreat, in the face OF strong
opposition. The commander of the
Union cavalry on the line to be raidet
was the father of Stuart's wife, Genera
Philip St. George Cook. Stuart's bold
ness in what followed may have been {
desire to have a laugh at the expense o.
his father-in.lsw. He selected for The
expedition 1900 picked men, among
them large detachment of his owl
regiment under Fitz Lee. JACK Mosby
was one of that band, private soldier
Stuart led the advance with his ia
vorite Virginia troopers. The Unioi
outposts were driven in, and at the frs
dldl LII ItOJdl
Fifth United States Cavalry, hurried t,
the front. Gathering his scattere,
troops Royal made stand at cross
roads. Stuart, with Fitz Lees Who'll
command, charged and routed ther
twice, finally driving them beyond thei
main camp.
General Lees instructions had bee
carried out, for Stuart knew that onl
a cavalry mask formed the right of Mo
Clellan's army. Instead of turnin
back to report, Stuart selected three @
the ablest guides for that region, anon
them Jack Mosby, and started upon hi
famous ride around the Union army
The raiders passed toward the rear @
the Union army and crossed the raj
road which carried its supplies to tn
front. A station and moving trai
were attacked. But the grand depot Q
supplies at White House landing onl
four miles from the track of the raid