The Washington herald., 1914-05-11
THE WAR DAY BY DAY
Fifty Years Ago.
May Stuart the Famous Cenedsats Cavalry Lsad
Was Morally Wounded Engagement at Yellow Taysn Near k
nond Between Part Of His Fe and Those Of Goa Sheridan
written Expressly for The Herald.

up. Sheridan had practically his entire
command at hand, but had only about
1900 engaged
Shortly after p. m. a charge was made
by the Federais. led by Clusters Michi-
gan Brigade. supported by the brigade
of Gen. George H. Chapman and by Gen.
James II. Wilson's division. which Tough;
dismounted.
The charge was brilliantly executed,
the Federals advancing at a walk. then
at a trot. then dashing at the enemy's
line and battery. capturing the guns and
gunners, breaking up the line and In
fiicting mortal injuries upon Gen. Stuart
and one of his brigade commanders. Gen.
James r. Gordon.
Gen. Stuart was struck down while
raliying about eighty of his men who had
collected on the Telegraph Road as the
Federals charged. Stuart. who was
mounted. fired his pistol at the Federals
as they passed. all the while encourage
ing his men and uring them to stand
firm STEADY. men. steady; >give II to
them" were his constant injunctions.
Presently a Federal trooper, who had
dismounted in the charge, passed on his
way to the rear and fired his pistol Mt
Gen. Stuart at close range. The bullet
took effect In the abdomen. Stuart
reeied. his head bowed forward, and his
unmanageable. and several men rushed
forward to hold the animal and to assist
Gen. Stuart to the ground. He was
seated under a tree. and another horse
being procured. he was lifted upon II,
but. being too weak to ride, he soon
was placed in an ambulance.
Goods VIII Re Done"
As Gen. Stuart was driven from the
field he noticed the disorganized ranks
of his retreating men, and called to to
them, Go back! Go back! Do your duty
as 1 have done mine. and our country
will be safe. I would rather die than
be, whipped
These were his last words on the bat
tlefield. In the ambulance Gen. Stuart
snxiously asked a stan officer how he
looked in the face The officer could not
conceal his anxiety and Stuart, reading
his look, said: IF 1t is Gods will that
shall die. / am ready"
In order to avoid the Federals. who
now held the direct road to Richmond
the ambulance was Obliged to make a
wide detour. and II was after dark when
II reached the house Of Gen. Stuart's
brother-in-law, DR.. Charles Brewer. The
ride had caused Stuart great suffering,
but he was conscious and remained so
through the night.
parting instructions for the bestowal of
his effects, giving his horses to one
friend, his spurs to- another. and so on.
As he lay dying the sound of cannon
outside the city, where the defenders of
Richmond had engaged Sheridan's men,
reached his ears. He asked its meaning.
and, being told. said: God grant that
they may be successful"
Jefferson Davis came to his bedside.
and to him Stuart said. in reply to
question as to his condition: Il Zeal
easy. but willing to die II God and my
country think / have fulfilled my destiny
and done my duty. In a short time he
said: II am going fast now; I am re-
signed; Gods will be done"
These words were the last of one Of
the most joyous and fearless characters
who took up the sword for the Confed
eracy.
James Eweu Brown Stuart was but
thirty-one years old. He was a native
of Patrick County. Virginia, was descend
ed from Scotch and Irish stock, and was
the son of an officer in the United States
army in the war of 1872. He was grad
uated from West Point in the class of
1854 His first service as an officer was
in a regiment of mounted rifiemen in
Texas He afterwards served In the
First United States Cavalry. in which
he was a lieutenant at the beginning Of
the war His first commission in the
colonel of infantry. He next was a colo
mel of cavalry, and on September "a. 1852.
received the commission of brigadier gen.
eral
. ro--o-,oxx. aTh> nIoodv Au~l~v ~