The Washington herald., 1909-01-03
STUART'S LAST BATTLE

the circumstances OF the YOunding and
death Of Gen Stuart that I. who hap
pened 20 be there IN the humble capacity
OF a corporal in the ranks Of the First
Virginia Cavalry, feel impelled to state
the truth about the wounding and death
Of our general Ny own opinion has
always been that his reckless bravery
led TO MS untimely death
I suppose there are reports in the
proper archives, both Federal and Con-
federate. Of this action of Yellow Tavern
and Of the movement Of troops prelini-
nary to it. but I know nothing Of them.
I state what came under my observation
and hearing as 4 soldier in the ranks.
II was not at the beginning OF the
Wilderness campaign that the movement
Of the cavalry eliminating at Yellow Tav-
ern took place. but IN the campaign more
than a year later CAfay. 1854. in which
the terrible battle near Spottsylvania
! Court House was fought. II was the
current talk OF our army that that con-
| tiict was ~ far the most desperate Of the
war. I have heard our men say that so
near did the Yankees come that they
could look into their eyes and even club
/ them with the butts OF their guns II
was in this battle that trees were torn
and cut through and fell from the steady
I hail Of Mimic bullets. So desperately did
I Grants men press their assaults that,
+ Is the gossip IN our army was. portion
/ Of our line faltered and was giving way
when Gen Lee himself rods up, but his
men made him 60 TO the rear with cries
/ Of Lee TO the rearr' and they soon
drove the enemy of
/ The morning following this desperate
battle and repulse OF Grant. our cavalry.
which had been only partially engaged
was put in motion and headed south to-
ward Richmond. We In the ranks
/ did not know what for. but as We became
/ extended on the way south word came
I along the line that the Yankee cavalry
E had been dispatched on a raid % Rich
mOnd. that city being. as II WAS sup
/ posed, but weakly defended. We were
/ 20 follow up the Yankees and put them
/ out Of business before they got 70 Rich
Z mond. / viii say here. to dlspel any idea
/ that w were worn down by Sheridan's
4 troops hanging on Us Ike a troop Of
I wolves" that Stuart's cavalry was az
I that time In the best or condition We
( were well clothed. well fec, and well
I mounted For many OF our horses We
were indebted q our friends the enemy.
70 whom ws looked when IN need. NY
SELF was then on my third mount de-
rived from that source
J 7 remember this march after Sheridan
. as a very pleasant one, our only fear
1 being that be would get away, as usual.
F. That We would not whip him II we
/ caught up with him did not enter our
I minds 7 remember that we pressed the
rear so closely that IN Louisa County we
I anne on a detachment OF the enemy
being 81 the leading column Joined in the
F pursuit with visions o. a fresh mount;
but alas. there were others who wanted
I those horses more than 7 did and they
were soon appropriated, while their riders
were Sent 70 the rear As I remember,
/ the enemy's cavaIrymen were an inslg-
infcant looking set OF men. but their
horses and equipments were excellent.
would Ike 60 emphasize q fact not suf-
fciently dwelt on by the Southern his
tOrian. that is. the contempt in which
Stuart's men held the Federal cavalry
men and the great respect the Southern
ers had FOR the horses and equipment %
the enemy
Our command near Richmond. and soon
We knew from the booming OF cannon
that an engagement had begun between
the two cavalry forces. Now. as 70 this
/ engagement I can say little. because I
saw little Of H. When q soldier from the
ranks undertakes 10 tell about 3 battle
extending over a mile or two in wooded
country you can set him down as a man
I talking through his hat I did see A
battery or two OF ours located on a hill
top firing away, and did see sQuadrons
+ OF our cavalry moving forward near those
batteries. but I saw none Of our forces
i retreatirg- When our regiment reached
the field the squadron 10 which I was
attached was ordered 70 dismovnt and 20
Geploy as sharpshOOte7s, which We did, one
hundred OF more OF US scattering along
the edge Of the wood. 7 heard rife firing
% the right and LEFT and in front: this
firing did not approach our position. but
rather receded. What the disposition OF
the forces Seyerally were ] never knew.
What I did see. after being in the posi-
ton say twenty or thirty minutes. was a
solitary hOrseman approaching Us through
the thiCEet he was riding slowly with
head and body bent forward We soon
/ knew from HIS black plume that il was
D.. our general. and the exclamation came
from four or FIVE Of rs. That IS Gen.
Stuart and ne IS wounded" As he
~ode slowly toward US we Of course
rushed I'D 70 him. Il was but too true:
he was wounded and mortaily. as we
knew when We saw where the bullet had
entered his side and torn his gray jacket.
He spoke not a word nor uttered q grOan
as we assisted him from his horse TO the
grouC He was borne away on a
stretsher or blanket. forget which. some
Of tie more stalwart OF my company do
Ing that duty. Charles Wheatly. OF
/ Georgetown. and Bob Bruce. Of the Relay
House. near Baltimore CbOth now dead.
were two Of the men. Ours was q Mary
land troop. The writer oe this article
was from Howard County. The troop
was commanded by Captain (afterward
Colonel Gus Dorsey, Of Montgomery
County. Nd
remained in the line OF skirmishers q
short time and we were ordered TO mount
and return TO our regiment. remember
that we Joined the main command on the
/ Telegraph road not far from Yellow Tav-
eTn- The battle was over. IN fact. so far
as 7 could see or hear, il was not much
Of a battle anyhow. Of course. as. soon
as the Federal command realized that we
had caught up with him his raid was at
an end
We went quietly into camp near Alice
Station, n few miles from the field Of
battle that night, gr1eving for our dead
7 general He had died q few hours after
being carried from the field. How Gen.
Stuart got his death wound was never
learned. I believe That he must have
been alone was evident. for not n single
StaR officer or orderly was with him when
he came through our line In this respect
his death wound was similar to that Of
Gen. Jackson at Charlottesville.
GratuitOuS Advice.
From the Youths Companion.
a man had sat for some time In a
restaurant Looking thoughtfnllv at the