Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1933-02-16
Custer Statue in
New RuTnley1Ohl

escort and where Stuart went, he went, with
his banjo and his ditties.
THE by-ways Virginia heard old joyous
snatches ringing above the thudding of the
horses. heels. Small country TOXINS -aMnke at
night. and the girls turned out In their stored
finery for impromptu dances, where Sweenys
banjo pitched the measure and Jeb Stuart led
the ront. But If 1t CHANGED to be Saturday night,
everything stopped at II o'clock. Jeb Stuart had
serious ideas about Sunday"
Theatrical as Jeb Stuart vas he was much
more. He was truly great cavalryman. or him
General Lee once said "Ile never sent me
piece of false information" and In Civil
days military leaders had to depend upon their
cavalry for information and accurate infnrma-=
tion was ail-important. AS an adored commander
of the horsemen In gray ('Jeb, he never says
"Go on" He says "come onlh they used to re-
mark) he led them In some OF the widest cava-
ny escapades of the war
OF his right to place among the great Amer
lean cavalry leaders another historian. Joseph
Hergesheimer. In Swords and Roses has said:
..fIe was born. an IDEAL leader of cavalry.
Ills perceptions there were fanltless he was
never known to make tactical error His plans
were formed instantly with more than a.
single sweeping view OF complicated battle
field AT times. however nothing but his uncon-
him from destruction. General Stuart was often
forced to depend upon sharpshooting but he
enormously preferred pure cavalry fighting; but
when his men dismonnted in skirmshes
he remained stubbornly beside them buoyant
with encouragement and songs.
"HIs great ability was In raiding In rapid
flank movements. charging and falling back with
horse. His extraordinary energy was practically
inexhnustihle; Stuart almost never slept He
needed, 1t seemed. little If any rest On the night
OF the second battle Of Manassas he gave com
prehenslble orders when he was asleep. After
days and nights without interruption in the sud
die he would stop by any roadside and He down.
safe or In the ennmp.s- countrp -witheut- piekats
or videttes. He did this at Carlisle Pa; wrapped
in his cloak he rested for mn hour against a
tree and then he remouned, completely re-
freshed Through moments OF extreme peril he
sat with leg thrown the pomme of his
saddle drumming with his fingers on knee.
He was often begged not to expose himself so
recklessly; he mpft, 1t was pointed out, be killed,
but his invariahle response that he reck-
oned not. His life did appear TO be charmed; he
lived untouched In n rain of she'll. canister, round
shot and bullets until he was hit fatally at Vel
low Tavern.
"Ie died, happily at the moment OF his great
est glory. ut the last glorious moment OF the
Confederacy; he suffered none Of the gnominy,
the poverty and sadness, OF defeat. For that rea-
son he was the most satisfactory, the most
wholly romantic soldier OF the Civil war Moth
ing about him, nothing In his career was dis
appointing; 1t was all handsome. all ingratlatina
like his yellow sash with Its graceful frnged
ends"
Ne more appropriate Flaps could be sounded
for this Beau Sabrenr OF the Gray than by
fellow fighting man. Captain Thomson, who
writes:
.All his life he was fortunate. II was giyer
him to toll greatly. and to enjoy greatly. t
taste no little fame from the works Of his hands