A BRIGADIER GENERAL: THE PENINSULAR CAMPAIGN AND THE CHICKAHOMINY RAID
1861-’62
On September 24, 1861, Stuart received his promotion as brigadier
general. His brigade included four Virginia regiments, one North
Carolina regiment, and the Jeff Davis Legion of Cavalry. These regiments
were composed of high-spirited, brave young men who could ride dashingly
and shoot with the skill of backwoodsmen, but who were for the most part
untrained in military affairs. Stuart, however, was an untiring
drillmaster and by his personal efforts he developed his brigade into a
command of capable and devoted soldiers.
[Illustration: STUART’S GAUNTLETS
From originals in Confederate Museum, Richmond, Va.]
The young general was not yet twenty-nine years old. He was of medium
height, had winning blue eyes, long silken bronze beard and mustache,
and a musical voice. He usually wore gauntlets, high cavalry boots, a
broad-brimmed felt hat caught up on one side by a black ostrich plume,
and a tight-fitting cavalry coat that he called his “fighting jacket.”
He rode as if he had been born in the saddle.
Fitz Lee, who served under him, said: “His strong figure, his big brown
beard, his piercing, laughing blue eyes, the drooping hat and black
feather, the ‘fighting jacket’ as he termed it, the tall cavalry boots,
formed one of the most jubilant and striking pictures in the war.”
[Illustration: STUART’S CAVALRY BOOTS
From originals in Confederate Museum, Richmond, Va.]
Later on, John Esten Cooke described Stuart thus: “His ‘fighting jacket’
shone with dazzling buttons, and was covered with gold braid; his hat
was looped up with a golden star and decorated with a black ostrich
plume; his fine buff gauntlets reached to the elbow; around his waist
was tied a splendid yellow sash and his spurs were of pure gold.”
One who formed an opinion of him from a casual glance might have thought
that he was merely a gay young fop, fond of handsome and even showy
dress. But his friends and his enemies knew better. Gay and even boyish
as he was when off duty, loving music and good cheer, his men knew that
the instant the bugles called him he would become the calm, daring,
farsighted commander, leading them to glorious deeds. No leader of the
southern army was more feared by the Federal troops or more admired by
the commanders of the Federal cavalry—Sheridan, Pleasanton, Buford, and
others—than Stuart whom they nicknamed “the Yellow Jacket.” He seemed to
fly from place to place, guarding the Confederate line and charging the
Federals at the most unexpected times and places; gayly dressed as that
brilliant-colored insect, he was as sharp and sudden in attack.
Possessing the daring courage that is necessary for a great cavalry
leader, he was so wary and farsighted that he won the respect of
conservative leaders as well as the confidence of his men. And in
victory or defeat he was the soul of good cheer. His mellow musical
voice could be heard above the din of battle singing,
“If you want to have a good time
Jine the cavalry.”
Once General Longstreet laughingly ordered General Stuart to leave camp,
saying he made the cavalrymen’s life seem so attractive that all the
infantrymen wanted to desert and “jine the cavalry.”
On December 20, 1861, while the army was in winter quarters at Manassas,
Stuart was placed in command of about 1,500 infantry, a battery of
artillery, and a small body of cavalry, for the purpose of covering the
movements of General J. E. Johnston’s wagon train which had been sent to
procure forage for the Confederate troops. It was most important that
this wagon train should be protected and the pickets had advanced to
Dranesville with the cavalry following closely, when a Federal force of
nearly 4,000 men, supported by two other brigades, attacked the pickets.
The pickets were driven back, and the Federal artillery and infantry
occupied the town, where they posted themselves in a favorable position.
Stuart, when informed that the Federals held the town, sent at once to
recall the wagons and advanced as quickly as possible with the rest of
his force to engage the Federals while the wagons were gaining a place
of safety. The Federals had a much larger force of infantry and had a
good position for their artillery; so Stuart, after two hours of unequal
combat, was forced to retire with heavy loss in killed and wounded. The
wagons, however, were saved from capture; and the next morning when
Stuart returned to renew the attack, he found that the Federals had
retired.
In this battle of Dranesville, the Confederate loss was nearly 200 and
that of the Federals was only 68. This was the first serious check that
Stuart had received, but he had displayed so much prudence and skill in
extricating the wagons and his small force from the sudden danger that
he retained the entire confidence of his men.
Writing about this battle to his wife, Stuart said, “The enemy’s force
was at least four times larger than mine. Never was I in greater
personal danger. Horses and men fell about me like tenpins, but thanks
to God neither I nor my horse was touched.”
In the meanwhile, the Federal commander, General McClellan, had been
organizing his forces and by March, 1862, he had under him in front of
Washington a large army splendidly armed and equipped. General Johnston
had too small an army to engage the Federal hosts; and so late in March
he fell back from Manassas and encamped on the south side of the
Rappahannock river.
General McClellan moved his large army to Fortress Monroe, and it was
then seen that he intended to advance to Richmond by way of the
Peninsula,—that is, the portion of tidewater Virginia lying between the
James and York rivers.
The brave Confederate general, Magruder, stationed at Yorktown, was
joined by General Johnston with his whole army. They saw, however, that
it would be impossible to hold that position against McClellan, and so
the Confederates gave up the town and retired toward Richmond.
The cavalry under Stuart skillfully guarded the rear of the army and
concealed its movements from the Federals. At Williamsburg a stubborn
and brilliant battle was fought, in which Johnston’s rear guard repelled
the Federals. After the battle, the cavalry and the Stuart Horse
Artillery protected the rear of the Confederate army as it withdrew
toward Richmond and screened the infantry as it took position along the
southern bank of the Chickahominy river.
McClellan placed his army on the north bank of the same river, and on
May 31 and June 1, he threw a large force across the river and engaged
the army of Johnston in the battle of Seven Pines. This battle was only
a partial victory for the Confederates, and as the river was bordered by
wide marshes and dense woods, neither side could make use of cavalry in
the conflict. General Stuart, however, was actively engaged in giving
personal assistance to General Longstreet on the field.
In his report of the battle, General Longstreet said: “Brigadier J. E.
B. Stuart, in the absence of any opportunity to use his cavalry, was of
material service by his presence with me on the field.”
In this battle of Seven Pines, General Johnston was severely wounded and
gave place to General R. E. Lee, who was thus put in command of the army
defending Richmond and of all of the other Confederate forces in
Virginia. McClellan’s magnificent army, now numbering 115,000 men,
stretched from Meadow Bridge on the right to the Williamsburg Road on
the left, having in front the marshes of the Chickahominy as natural
barriers. By entrenching his army behind positions which he secured from
time to time, he advanced until at one point he was only five miles from
Richmond and could see the spires of the churches and hear the bells
ringing for services.
General Lee had a much smaller army with which to repel this large
entrenched army and he withdrew to the south side of the Chickahominy.
It was very important to him to learn the position and strength of the
Union forces, so that he might be able to attack them at the weakest
point. In order to gain this information, he resolved to send General
Stuart with 1,200 cavalry to make a raid toward the White House on the
Pamunkey river, which was the base of supplies for the Federal troops.
General Lee wrote to General Stuart, giving definite instructions about
this scouting expedition.
The letter said: “You are desired to make a scout movement, to the rear
of the enemy now posted on the Chickahominy river, with a view of
gaining intelligence of his operations, communications, etc., of driving
in his foraging parties, and securing such grain and cattle for
ourselves as you can make arrangements to have driven in.
“Another object is to destroy his wagon trains said to be daily passing
from the Piping-Tree road to his camp on the Chickahominy. The utmost
vigilance on your part will be necessary to prevent any surprise to
yourself, and the greatest caution must be practiced in keeping well in
your front and flanks reliable scouts to give you information.
“You will return as soon as the object of your expedition is
accomplished, and you must bear in mind while endeavoring to execute the
general purpose of your mission, not to hazard unnecessarily your
command. Be content to accomplish all the good you can, without feeling
it necessary to obtain all that might be desired.”
Such a raid demanded great daring and skill, coupled with cool judgment,
and General Lee knew that these qualities were possessed by the man to
whom he entrusted this responsible and dangerous undertaking. As we are
to see, Stuart carried out his instructions in an able and brilliant
manner and accomplished even more than was hoped by General Lee.
In the first place, Stuart chose for the enterprise men and horses
picked to stand the strain of rapid movement. Colonel Fitzhugh Lee,
Colonel W. H. F. Lee, and Colonel W. T. Martin were in command of the
cavalry and Colonel James Breathed commanded the one battery of
artillery.
[Illustration: MAP OF THE CHICKAHOMINY RAID]
Early on the morning of June 12, Stuart and his chosen troopers started
on the famous “Chickahominy Raid,” or “Pamunkey Expedition” as it is
sometimes called. In order to mask his real purpose, Stuart marched
directly northward twenty-two miles. At sunrise the next morning, the
little band of horsemen mounted and turned abruptly eastward toward
Hanover Courthouse. They found the town in possession of a body of
Federal cavalry that retired as the Confederate troopers advanced. The
Confederates then passed on without serious trouble as far as Totopotomy
Creek. Here, however, Stuart’s advance guard was attacked by a company
of Federal troopers. Finding themselves outnumbered and almost
surrounded, these troopers retired to the main body of Federal troops
commanded by Captain Royall, who at once drew up his forces to receive
the attack. Stuart immediately ordered a squadron to charge with sabers,
in columns of fours. Captain Latané, a gallant young officer who was
that day commanding the squadron, met Captain Royall in a hand-to-hand
encounter. Royall was seriously wounded by a thrust from Latané’s saber.
Latané fell dead, pierced by a bullet from Royall’s pistol. The Federals
fled in dismay, but soon rallied and returned to the charge, only to be
again repulsed, whereupon they retired to the Union lines.
Fitz Lee learned from some of the prisoners that the Federal camp was
not far away and, having obtained from Stuart permission to pursue the
Union troops, he pushed onto Old Church, repelled the cavalry, and
destroyed the camp.
[Illustration: From a painting by W. D.
Washington
THE BURIAL OF LATANÉ]
General Stuart had now carried out the chief order given by General
Lee,—that is, he had ridden to the rear of McClellan’s army and had
discovered that the Federal right wing did not extend toward the railway
and Hanover Courthouse—but it was a vexing problem how to bring this
valuable information to his commanding general. The route the young
officer had just passed was doubtless by this time swarming with
Federals. The best way to return to Richmond would probably be to ride
quickly around the entire Federal army and cross the Chickahominy river
to the left of McClellan, before troops were sent to cut him off.
Without halting or consulting with any of his officers, Stuart decided
that there was less risk in following this circuitous route, especially
as he had with him for a guide Lieutenant James Christian whose home was
on the Chickahominy and who said that the command could safely cross a
private ford on his farm.
The Federals were under the impression that there was a very large force
of Confederates on the raid; and so they were collecting infantry and
cavalry at Totopotomy Bridge to cut off the return of the raiders.
Stuart, however, passed on toward Tunstall’s Station, on the York River
Railroad, four miles from the White House which was the principal supply
station of the Federal army.
He now proceeded to carry out the second part of Lee’s
instructions,—namely, to destroy whatever supplies he might find on the
way. As he passed on, numbers of wagons fell into his hands. He sent two
squadrons to Putney’s Ferry and burned two large transports and numbers
of wagons laden with supplies. Approaching Tunstall’s Station, one of
the supply depots of the Federals, he sent forward a body of picked men
to cut the telegraph wires and obstruct the railroad. Before they could
perform the latter task, a train approached bearing soldiers and
supplies to McClellan’s army. The Confederates fired on it, but instead
of stopping the brave engineer stood at his post and carried the train
by at full speed. He was struck by a shot and fell dying at his post,
while the Confederates gave a cheer for his courage in risking his life
to save his charge from their hands.
Vast quantities of Federal stores were destroyed by the Confederates
whose men and horses reveled in an unusual supply of good rations and
provender. It was now nearly dark and Stuart’s position was exceedingly
dangerous. Behind him were regiments of cavalry in hot pursuit. Not more
than four or five miles distant were the entrenchments of McClellan,
whence in a short time troops could be sent by rail to cut off his
progress to the James river. Before him was the Chickahominy, now a
raging torrent from the spring rains. His chief guides through this maze
of swamps and forest roads were Private Richard Frayser and Lieutenant
Christian whose homes were near and who knew every part of the country
through which they were passing. Stuart had the advantage also of
knowing from his scouts just where the enemy was located.
[Illustration: From a war-time photograph
THE CHICKAHOMINY RIVER]
Having formed his plans, swiftness and boldness were his watchwords.
After he had destroyed the Federal supplies at Tunstall’s Station and
burned the railroad bridge over Black Creek, he set out about dark for
Talleysville, four miles distant, where he halted for three hours and a
half, in order to allow men and horses to rest and scattered troopers to
come up.
Colonel John S. Mosby, later one of Stuart’s chief scouts, was at that
time his aide. In describing the raid, Mosby said that one who had never
taken part in such an expedition could form no idea of the careless
gayety of the men that night. When they had set out the day before, they
did not know where they were going. Now they were aware they were riding
around McClellan and the boldness of the movement fired their
imaginations, quickened their pulses, and roused their courage to any
deed of daring. Therefore, in the midst of danger, they sang and laughed
and feasted; and at midnight when the bugle sounded “Boots and Saddles,”
every horseman was ready for whatever might come.
At daybreak on June 14, the Confederates reached the ford on Sycamore
Springs, Christian’s farm,—a ford no longer for the river swollen by the
heavy rains had overflowed its banks and become a raging torrent.
Colonel Lee and a few men swam their horses across the stream and back
again; but it was evident that the weaker horses and the artillery could
not cross at that point. The Confederates then cut down trees tall
enough to span the stream, and attempted to build a rough bridge, but
the trees were swept down the rapid current as soon as they touched the
water.
Stuart rode up and sat on his horse, calmly stroking his long silken
beard as he watched his cavalrymen’s bootless efforts. Every other face
betrayed keen anxiety. Learning there was the remains of an old bridge a
few miles below, he moved the command thither with all speed. A deserted
warehouse was near the old bridge, and a large force of men was set at
work to tear down the house in order to secure material to rebuild the
bridge. While the work was going on, Stuart laughed and jested with his
officers.
The men worked with such swiftness that within three hours the bridge
was ready for the cavalry and artillery to pass over; and at one o’clock
that afternoon, the whole command had crossed. During those hours of
anxiety, Fitz Lee, in command of the rear guard, had driven off several
parties of Federal cavalry. After all the Confederates gained the
southern shore—Fitz Lee being the last man to cross—, the bridge was
burned to prevent pursuit. The men were exultant and happy at having
crossed the river, but they were by no means out of danger, being
thirty-five miles from Richmond and still far within the lines of
McClellan. Stuart, who knew that every moment was precious to General
Lee, hastened on at sunset with only one courier and his trusty guide
Frayser and arrived at Richmond about sunrise on the morning of June 15.
The men rested several hours and then were led by Colonel Fitz Lee
safely back to their own camp where they were greeted with enthusiastic
cheers by their comrades.
As soon as General Stuart reached Richmond, he sent Frayser to inform
Mrs. Stuart of his safe return, while he himself rode to General Lee’s
headquarters with his wonderful report.
He had been sent to find out the position of the right wing of
McClellan’s army. He had not only located that, but he had destroyed a
large amount of United States property, brought off one hundred and
sixty-five prisoners and two hundred and sixty horses and mules. With
only twelve hundred men, he had ridden around the great Federal army—a
distance of about ninety miles in about fifty-six hours—with the loss of
only one man, the lamented young Latané. By that dashing ride, Stuart
gained for himself world-wide fame and an honorable place among the
great cavalry leaders of all time. The Chickahominy Raid was one of the
most brilliant cavalry achievements in history, and it inspired the
Confederates with fresh courage and excited Federal dread of the bold
cavalrymen who attempted and accomplished seemingly impossible things.
The information gained was invaluable for it made it possible for
General Lee to send Jackson against the right flank of McClellan and to
defeat the Federals at Cold Harbor.
In the Seven Days’ Battle around Richmond, which began on June 26,
Stuart at first guarded the left of Jackson’s march. In the battle of
Gaines’s Mill, he found a suitable position for the artillery. He sent
forward two guns under Pelham, a gallant young gunner from Alabama, who
kept up an unequal combat for hours with two Federal batteries. When the
Federal lines had been forced at Gaines’s Mill and Cold Harbor, Stuart
advanced three miles to the left; but finding no trace of the Federals,
he returned that night to Cold Harbor. On June 28, he proceeded toward
the White House on the Pamunkey river, which the Federals had abandoned
and burned. They had also set fire to many valuable stores and munitions
of war. The illustration on this page is from a war-time photograph,
showing the railroad bridge across the Pamunkey river which was
destroyed in order to render the road useless to the Confederates. When
McClellan changed his base from the White House to James river, he had
two trains loaded with food and ammunition run at full speed off the
embankment in the left foreground into the river, in order to keep these
stores from falling into the hands of the southern troops.
[Illustration: From a war-time photograph
RUINS OF RAILROAD BRIDGE ACROSS PAMUNKEY RIVER]
An interesting account of this campaign is given by Heros Von Borcke.
Von Borcke was a noble young Prussian officer who gave his services as a
volunteer to the Confederacy, just as LaFayette had given his services
to the Colonies in the War of the Revolution; Von Borcke served the
South so loyally that near the close of the war the Confederate Congress
drew up a resolution of thanks for his services in just the same form
that the Colonies had thanked LaFayette.
Von Borcke was one of Stuart’s aides and he distinguished himself by his
gallantry during the Chickahominy raid. He tells us that when the
Confederates arrived at the White House they found burning pyramids
built of barrels of eggs, bacon and hams, and barrels of sugar. There
were also boxes of oranges and lemons and other luxuries. Many of these
luxuries were rescued by the Confederates, and when Von Borcke reached
the plantation, shortly after it had been taken, he found General Stuart
seated under a tree drinking a big glass of iced lemonade, an unusual
treat for a Confederate soldier. All of Stuart’s troops had such a feast
as was seldom enjoyed during the war, and large quantities of supplies
and equipments were forwarded to the Confederate quartermaster at
Richmond.
The Federal gunboat, _Marblehead_, was still in sight on the river. The
soldiers at that period had an almost superstitious fear of the bombs
thrown by the big guns of the gunboats, which made an awful whizzing
noise and burst into many fragments. Stuart decided that he would teach
his troopers a lesson and show them how little harm the dreaded shells
did at short range. He selected seventy-five men whom he armed with
carbines and placed under command of Colonel W. H. F. Lee who led them
down to the landing. They fired at the boat and skirmishers were sent
ashore from the boat to meet them. A brisk skirmish followed, during
which Stuart brought up one gun of Pelham’s battery. This threw shells
upon the decks of the _Marblehead_, while the screeching bombs of the
big guns of the boat went over the heads of Pelham’s battery, far away
into the depths of the swamps. The skirmishers hurried back to the
_Marblehead_, and it steamed away down the river, pursued as far as
possible by shells from Pelham’s plucky little howitzer.
Stuart sent General Lee the important news that McClellan was seeking a
base upon the James river, and then stayed the remainder of the day at
the White House, where he found enough undestroyed provisions to satisfy
the hunger of the men and horses of his command.
After severe engagements with the Confederates at Savage Station and
Frayser’s Farm, the Union forces were forced to retreat, closely
followed by Jackson and Stuart. On the evening of July 1, was fought the
bloody battle of Malvern Hill, after which McClellan retreated by night
down the James to Harrison’s Landing where he was protected by the
gunboats.
Early on the morning of July 2, Stuart started in pursuit and found the
Federals in position at Westover. The next day he took possession of
Evelington Heights, a tableland overlooking McClellan’s encampment and
protecting his line of retreat. Here Stuart expected to be supported by
Longstreet and Jackson, and he opened fire with Pelham’s howitzer.
The Federal infantry and artillery at once moved forward to storm the
heights. Jackson and Longstreet were delayed by terrific storms, and
Stuart unsupported held his position until two o’clock in the afternoon
when his ammunition gave out. He then retired and joined the main body
of the infantry, which did not arrive until after the Federals had taken
possession of Evelington Heights and were fortifying it strongly.
The two armies now had a breathing spell of about one month. McClellan’s
defeated hosts remained in their protected position at Harrison’s
Landing until the middle of August, when they were recalled to join
General Pope at Manassas. General Lee’s army was withdrawn nearer to
Richmond which was saved from immediate danger.