The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-05-21
THE LAST HOURS
OF GENERAL STUART
Recollections Of a Member Of His Staff The
Final Tragic Hours Faced Death Unfalter-
ingly-His Funeral

and reaching Richmond q bout ii o'clock
that night. From Mcclllnicsviilc he
sent me ahead into the city 10 have
a bed ready for him. and TO report
10 General Bragg.
Hero at the house OF DR.. Charles
Brewer his brother in-iuw, lie fingered
until nightfall OF the iath Of May, his
powerful frame and resolute will eight
ing against tho mortal wound such, az;
few Hen could have withstood even
for one hour What personal remem :
brancc Of him can | bear To relate which
would not open afresh the sorrow with
which must ever contemplate the
calamity of his noble death?
10 recall his reply TO suggestion
made by one or his brigade comman-
ders. on the march. that 1t would be
Impossible to ovcrtake and stop Sheri-
dan: NO" said stuart, with hot i'm.
patience. Il would rather die than let
him go on
As we approached the battlefield that
morning. his chief buger, a non com
hatant you know, riding close by him,
mildly protested against the generals
habit OF exposing his life in every bat
tie, saving to him: General he-
lieve you love hullets.r Turning sharn-
~ 10 the bueler. Stuart said. no.
Freed | do not love bullets any bet
ter than You do; go where they are
because II is my duty. and ] do not cx-
pect 10 survive this war
During the hattie he deplored tho
absence OF Ciorions North Carolina
brigade. who were attacking Shnri-
1an's rear far away on the Mountain
Road. But alas! within few days
after the battle Gordon was united
viii, him in death.
Here In his death chamber, about
noon on the l2th. / was alone a, his
bedside watching and holding his
pulse at it throhhed fast and faster
TO the inevitable end Suddenly n loud
shout arose from n crowd of men and
hogs passing along Broad Street Awail-
Ing with a startled look, he said Go
and sec what that means" fastening
TO the street I saw an ambulance NOV
Ing slowly through the rain towards
the CAPITOL. and WAS told that a wound :
cd gcreral.--a captured Yankee gen
eral.-rwas heing driven to a hospital
Returning TO General Stuart's he'd
side. | found him nearly asleep. and
RETAINED from telling him the rumor.
II WAS. In fact, a wounded general, but.
sad tn say. 1t proved 10 be none other
than Stuari's gallant friend and COM
nanion. General danes g. Gordon. of
tile North Carolina brigade, who was
shot that morning near Brookhil, and
died here only q week later.
During tho day. President Davis
visited General stuart's bedside. and
with deep emotion, babe him a long
farewell, The Rev Joshua Peterkin.
that sanity man Of God lc ever there
was ono OH earth, with prayer and
sup7lica ton md Stunrt's fnvorite hymn
---1Rock OF Ages Cleft for Me'--ad-
minis,crrd To him the consolation of our
Holy Church. IN whose communion hc
died and was buried.
Iseaii2ine thHt death was very near
lie prepared to meet il as he had SO
often feccd ii before.-without fear and
without renrouch. Il am ready TO go"
l,c said. and his last fcrvent wish was
for his beloved wife. then Fastening TO
his bedside. HIS last thought was OF
duty done 50 faithfully to God an6
his country.
For how can man die better than facing
fearful odds
For tho ashes of his fathers and the
affairs of his gods ?"
Eight general oficers were his pan.
bearers, among whom recall Cen
erals George w. Randolph and Joseph
r. Anderson. The services at st
James Church and the burial IN Holly
wool were attended. without military
display. by many devoted friends and
comrades, In the midst OF falling rain,
Tho very clouds iii sympathy with our
troubled souls. accompanied not only
blythe artillery OF heaven, but by the
booming OF orr guns then driving the
enemy beyond our reach. So true is
1t, as Percy Greg sang:
"rho cannon OF his country pealod