Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1909-01-08
A Soldiers Story of
J.E. B. Stuart's S Death
Simple, But Vivid Account Of the
Battle of Yellow Tavern from
a Man in the Ranks.

odltAC Vi CAAVW AotClu 4lOM
a Man in the Ranks.
Mr.. w. w. Burgess of Orange, Va,
under date of December 23d, writes as
follow to the N. Y. Sun in regard te
the death of Gen. J. E. B. Stuart. The
article will be interesting to many Of
our readers, as large number of Au.
gusta men were in Gen. Stuart's army
"Sir-An article in the Literary Di-
gest, with the title 'Stuart's Last Bat.
tie" and credited to the Sun, is SO
wrong as to the facts leading up to the
engagement of Yellow Tavern and 70
imaginative as to the circumstances OF
the wounding and death of Gen. Stuart
that l. who happened to be there in
the humble capacity of corporal in
the ranks of the 1st Va. cavalry, feel
impelleG to state the truth about the
wounding and death OF our general.
My own opinion has always been that
his reckless bravery led TO his untime-
ly death.
81 suppose there are reports in the
proper archives, both Federal and Con-
federate, of this action of Yellow Tav-
ern and of the movement of troops pre-
liminary to it, but know nothing of
them. 1 state what came under my
observation and hearing as soldier in
the ranks.
SIT was not at the beginning of the
Wilderness campaign that the move
ment of the cavalry eliminating at
Yellow Tavern took place, but in the
campaign more than year later
MAY, 1S64), in which the terrible bat
tie near Spottsylvania Courthouse was
fought. 1t was the current talk of our
army that that conflict was by 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 gnns. It was
in this battle that trees were torn and
cut through and fell from the steady
hail of mimic bullets. So desperately
did Grants men press their assaults
that, as the gossip in our army was, a
portion of our line faltered and was
giving way when Gen. Lee, himself,
rode up, but his men made him 60 to
the rear with cries of Lee to the rear,
and they soon drove the enemy of.
'The morning following this desper-
ate battle and repulse of Grant, our
cavalry, which had been only partial
ly engaged, was put in motion and
headed south toward Richmond. We
in the ranks did not know what for,
but as we became extended on the way
south word came along the line that
the Yankee cavalry had been des-
patched on raid to Richmond, that
city being, as it was supposed, but
weakly defended. We were to follow
up the Yankees and put them out of
business before they got to Richmond.
l will say here, to dispel any idea that
we were worn down by Sheridan IS
troops, hanging on us like troop OF
wolves that Stuart's cavalry was at
that time in the best of condition. We
were well clothed, well fed and well
mounted. For many Of our horses we
were indebted to our friends the enc
my, to whom we looked when in need.
I myself was then on my third mount
derived from that source.
81 remember this march after Sheri-
dan as very pleasant one, our only
fear being that he would get away, as
usual. That we would not whip him
if we caught up with him did not en-
ter our minds. [ remember that we
pressed the rear so closely that in Lou.
lisa county we came on a detachment
Of the enemy. | being in the leading
column joined in the pursuit with Wis
ions OF a fresh mount; but alas, there
were others who wanted those horses
more than did, and they were soon
appropriated, while their riders were
sent to the rear. AS l remember, tht
enemy's cavalrymen were an insignifi
cant looking set of men, but their
horses and equipments were excellent
would like to emphasize a fact moi
sufficiently dwelt on by the Southern
historian; that is, the contempt il
which Stuart's men held the Federal
cavalrymen and the great respect the
Southsrners had for the horses ant
equipmenl of the enemy.
"Our command nearsd Richmond
and soon we knew from the boomin,
cannon that an engagement had begun
between the two cavalry forces. Now
as to this engagement can say little
because l saw little of it. When a sol
dier from the ranks undertakes to tel
about battle extending over a mil
or two in wooded country ysu can
set him down as man stalkin,
through his hat I did see a battery
or two of ours located on a hilltop fiji
ing away, and did see squadrons Q
our cavalry moving forward near thos
batteries, but I saw none of out force
retrsating. When our regiment reach
ed she field the squadron to which
was attached was ordered to dismoun
and to deploy as sharpshooters, whicl
we did, one hundred or more of u
scattering along the edge OF wood
heard rifle firing to the right and lef
and in front; this firing did not ar
proach our position, but rather reced
ed. What the disposition of the force
l