The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-09-22


mounted men made d. charge
UP the road. but were driven back
by u body OF Federal cavalry, clinrg
ing In column Of fours, and when
they 1.-THE enemy) got to our line Of
battle they filed to their left and in
front Of our command, passing with
In ten or fifteen feet of/our line and
General Stuart.
Under OUR fire they broke into twos.
tlirees and fours, firing at lis az they
passed on at trot. But one Of them
checked his horse directly
IN front OF General Stuart and turning
toward him, fired ut the general AMI
as quickly turned and rode on, but
lie fell, dead or wounded
This saw very distinctly, and being
alarmed ut tho closeness of that fire
directed at General Stuart. looked up
in his face and saw that IL was very
pale. He quickly pressed his hand to
his left side | said to him: General.
are you hlt?" yes" he replied. Are
you wounded badly?" asked. IL am
afraid / am" he said. But don't
worry, boys: Fitz (meaning General
F'tz Lec) will do as we'll for you as
/ have done" Immediately we took
him back. Tom Waters {of Baltimore)
leading his horse while Fred Pitts and
myself were on either side of him. We
went back about 100 yards and found
some men seemingly of the ambulance
corps.
Leaving the party OF men and the
general. I hurried back to my place
in line. at the fence, knowing the
great Importance of holding this posi-
ton, to prevent the capture of General
Stuart. This was done until General
Stuart had been removed from the
field, when our regiment slowly re-
treated. When left Pitts, Waters.
and the other men with the general.
he was still sitting on his horse. did
not see him taken from off his horse,
and never saw our beloved and peerless
commander again. When wounded he
was near the centre OF Company X.
and the troops nearest to him were
Companies X and D. He had neither
STAFF officer nor courier with him.
Private Pltts's Narrative.
Private Frederick L. Pitts wrote Col-
onel Peters his view OF the tragedy
as follows:
Your letter. inclosing copy refer
ring to the fatal wounding OF General
j. e. B. Stuart. received. I remem-
Der having some correspondence with
you GONE three years ago on this sub
iect. / think l stated that 1 had
never gone into any controversy re-
garding incidents OF the late unpleas-
antneas." mainly because my memory
is rather hazy and unreliable concern
ing events 50 far back. In this case.
however. my recollection Ia fairly
clear as TO some OF the details. at
least.
i read Mr.. j. II. divers story with
int xln ~ ra.
the positions of other bodies of troops,
his account of our position. Squadron
Companies d and *. First Virginia
Cavalry" and the actual wounding Of
General Stuart, Is practically as res
member 1t.
We were holding a position in the
woods. not far from the main road,
under very heavy fire. at the time
General Stuart joined us. He was
quite alone. Just after l saw him the
fire in front grew heavier, and I no.
ticed the general reel in his saddle.
He either dismounted himself, or was
assisted to do SO Il think by Captain
Dorsey. and .reclined on the ground
for few minutes. There WAS some
conversation with CAPTAIN Dorsey re-
garding his wound.
do nst remember what was said
soaked with blood. and believed that
he was seriously hurt. Meanwhile
the pressure in front grew worse. and
as 1t seemed uncertain whether we
sey ordered us to get the general II
his saddle and take him TO the rear
Just how many of our company tool
part in this l do not remember. MOI
am certain o g; to the names r Vas
ters. and himself, and adds that ! rode
the generals horse. It seems to me
that Bruce and Holland, of Compan!
K. figured in this connection. but
am not quite sure about it. rode
very FESTIVE. and l was ordered tc
bring my horse for the generals use
and to ride his horse myself Some
of our party held the general In his
saddle, walking BY his side. while :
rode. We met the ambulance meI
when we reached the main road.
do not think the ambulance had then
arrived. Many mounted men. staff Of
fcers and others. Joined US and took 90
other members of our party returned
at once to the company.
Before the ambu!anee party Eos
away some Of the enemys cavairs
ward us. Some officer present q be-
lieye 1t was Major Breathed. of the
Horse Artillery ordered the mounted
men present to check them until the
general could be safely removed. Al
was still riding the generals horse
I Joined the party, and did pot get
back to my company until after that
skirmish late in the evening.
The above account Is as recall
this sad event, and II it will be OF
any service shall be glad to have
1 would Just like to add, in jus.
tice to the bravest man ever knew
Captain Gus w. Dorsey. that but foi
his timely action In moving oul
wounded chief. and his gallant work
In holding his position against desi
operate odds while this was being ac-
complished, we would hardly have
been able to get the general of this
field at all.
Col. &. w. Dorsey'a Testimony.
In volume Xxx. page 2s7, "southerr
Historical Society Papers" Richmond
Va, there appears reprint from the
Staunton (Va.) Spectator, April q
1902. of a written account by Colone
G. W. Dorsey Captain Co. r, First
Virginia Cavalry, of the fatal wound
ing Of General ]. r. B. Stuart. as fol
lows:
was stationed on the Telegram
j y = -..tk a. H@~S N n