FINAL CAMPAIGNS AND DEATH
1863-’64
General Meade now advanced into Virginia and attempted to follow General
Lee and cut him off from Richmond. Lee being at once informed by Stuart
of the movement, skillfully eluded his foe and by the first of August,
had placed his army behind the Rappahannock river, between Meade and
Richmond.
The cavalry now had a short period of rest. The whole force was
reorganized, and Hampton and Fitz Lee were promoted to the rank of major
general. This much-needed rest was broken on September 13, by the
advance of the Federals into Culpeper county. Stuart had been warned of
their forward movement, and at once started his wagons and disabled
horses toward Rapidan Station. General Lee supposing that General Meade
was advancing in force, had already retired behind the Rapidan river and
placed his army in a very strong position.
Early on the morning of Sept. 13, the Federal cavalry advanced in large
numbers to the fords of the Rappahannock. As Lee did not intend to hold
Culpeper county, Stuart retired toward Rapidan Station, keeping up a
running fight as he withdrew.
A few days later, Stuart came in touch with Buford’s cavalry near Jack’s
Shop in Madison county, and attacked them in several spirited charges.
He was unable, however, to drive back these forces. Unwilling to
retreat, he advanced and was engaged in a furious combat when he was
informed that Kilpatrick’s command was in his rear. As he withdrew to
meet this unexpected foe, Buford pressed forward and it seemed for a
time that Stuart had at last been caught in a place from which he could
not escape.
Kilpatrick had already thrown a large force of dismounted men between
Stuart and the river, and he was thus enclosed between two large forces
of finely-mounted men. Buford pressed forward until the battle was
brought into a field in the center of which a small hill afforded a good
position for Stuart’s artillery. He now divided his regiments and
guns—some to fight Buford, some to fight Kilpatrick. At last,
Kilpatrick’s main force was driven back and one of Stuart’s regiments
dashed up to the fence behind which Kilpatrick’s dismounted men were
firing, threw it down, and made way for Stuart to retire. Withdrawing
rapidly, Stuart then crossed the ford at Liberty Mills where he was very
soon reenforced.
On October 9, General Lee commenced the movement around the right of
General Meade’s army which is called the “Bristoe Campaign.” In this
campaign, the cavalry was sorely tried. Fitz Lee—who, as you have been
told, had been promoted to the rank of major general—was left at Raccoon
Ford, supported by two brigades of infantry, to hold Lee’s line and to
make Meade believe that Lee’s whole army was still encamped at that
place. Stuart with Hampton’s division moved to the right of Lee’s army
as it again marched northward; it was his duty to prevent the Federals
from finding out Lee’s movements and to protect the army from attacks.
Now followed a series of sharp engagements between the cavalry of the
two armies. There was a skirmish near James City after which the
Federals retired toward Culpeper Courthouse. The next morning, Stuart
followed them. Three miles from the Courthouse, he met and drove in the
Federal pickets. But he now found out that Meade was retreating from the
Rappahannock and that Fitz Lee, who had fought a battle at Raccoon Ford,
was advancing towards Brandy Station,—fighting Buford as he marched.
Stuart knew that Kilpatrick was at Culpeper Courthouse awaiting his
attack, but on receiving this news he turned at once northward toward
Brandy Station, hoping to join Fitz Lee and get possession of Fleetwood
Hill from which he had driven the Federal cavalry in June. If he could
carry out this plan, he would cut off Kilpatrick from Buford.
Kilpatrick, who had massed his force of about four thousand men on the
open space east of the Courthouse at Culpeper waiting the attack of
Stuart, soon found out that the latter had eluded him and was hurrying
toward Brandy Station. He, therefore, began a race for the same
position.
Unfortunately, Stuart was delayed by a skirmish with Federal forces and
when he came in sight of Brandy Station, he saw that Kilpatrick had
beaten him in the race. Buford, who was being pursued by Fitz Lee, had
already taken possession of Fleetwood Hill and placed his artillery upon
its crest. Stuart had moved so rapidly that he had left his artillery
far behind, but Fitz Lee’s guns were booming as he came into position.
Fitz Lee joined Stuart and they at once attacked Kilpatrick’s and
Buford’s forces, now under the command of Major-General Pleasanton. The
Federals fought bravely, but they were steadily pushed toward their
position on Fleetwood Hill. It was now late in the afternoon, and
Stuart, declining to attack them in their strong position, sent Fitz Lee
to the left as if to cut off the Federals from the river. As soon as
Pleasanton perceived this flanking movement, he withdrew from Fleetwood
Hill and, protected by his artillery, crossed the river. Stuart’s weary
troopers camped that night once more around Brandy Station, well pleased
at having gained a decided victory over such large forces.
Two days later, Stuart reached Warrenton where the whole army was
encamped and he immediately received orders to proceed toward Catlett’s
Station with two thousand men and seven guns, for the purpose of gaining
accurate information about the position of Meade’s army.
General Meade had started his forces back toward Culpeper Courthouse to
engage General Lee in battle, but he found out that Lee was marching
around his right, so as to get between him and Washington city. On
receiving this information, Meade at once recalled his forces. These
movements and countermovements came near resulting disastrously to
Stuart who was caught between the advancing and retreating divisions of
the Federals.
When he reached Catlett’s Station, he found that a column of Federal
infantry was moving toward that place. He at once fell back on the road
to Warrenton and found another Federal corps in his rear. His situation
was now one of great peril. It seemed that his force would either be
captured or cut to pieces.
Fortunately, when Stuart perceived his danger he was emerging from a
piece of woods and night was closing in. He at once retired his command
to the depths of the woods and called a council of his officers. They
were so near the enemy that the neighing of a horse or the clash of a
saber could be heard, and to make retreat impossible, they were hemmed
in on one side by a swollen stream and on the other side by a forest. At
first, it was proposed to leave the seven guns and cut their way out.
Stuart, however, would not agree to abandon his artillery. At last,
officers went through the command and ordered each man to stand by his
horse’s head, and to make no sound himself nor let his horse make any.
As soon as it was dark, Stuart ordered four trusted men to make their
way to General Lee at Culpeper Courthouse. They were to inform him of
the dangerous position of the cavalry and ask him to send aid as soon as
possible. Then followed long hours of anxious waiting. During the night,
a Federal corps marched past the front of Stuart’s position, but
fortunately the noise of the moving column prevented the Federals from
detecting the presence of the Confederates within the woods.
At the first peep of day, the Confederates discovered that a large force
of Federal infantry had halted near, had stacked arms, and were getting
breakfast. They were so near the Confederates that several of their
officers who strayed into the woods were captured. In the dim light of
morning, each soldier in gray tightened the girth of his hungry, weary
steed and mounted silently, with weapons ready for the charge. The seven
guns were parked near the west of the hill, just opposite the feasting
Federals. Then the men waited,—waited either to be discovered by the
Federals when the bright sunlight should flash upon their gray coats or
to hear Lee’s guns as a signal for them to attack.
At last! There was firing from toward Warrenton. Aid was approaching and
the time had come to cut their way out. In an instant, the seven guns
were pouring shot and shell upon the surprised Federals. The horsemen
then charged upon the infantry regiments which had hastily formed in
line of battle and were advancing upon the guns. A fierce combat now
ensued in which the Federals were driven back. The artillery and wagons,
followed closely by the horsemen, passed behind the rear of the Federals
and thus the whole command escaped from its perilous position.
General Meade now fell back to Centerville and General Lee, having
failed to cut off General Meade from Washington, retired again to the
line of the Rappahannock. Stuart continued to follow the Federal
cavalry, having skirmishes at Bull Run, Groveton, and Frying Pan Church.
A few days later, the Confederate cavalry defeated a large force of
infantry near Buckland, in a battle that is known as the “Buckland
Races.” After a sharp skirmish, Stuart fell back slowly toward Warrenton
in order to draw the Federals after him; for Fitz Lee was moving forward
from Warrenton to attack them in the rear. Stuart, as soon as he heard
the sound of Fitz Lee’s guns, turned suddenly upon the Federals with so
furious a charge that their lines were broken and put to flight. Stuart
chased them for five miles and captured two hundred and fifty prisoners
and eight wagons and ambulances. Thus he may be said to have fairly won
the race back to Buckland.
Soon after this, both armies went into winter quarters. The Federal
soldiers had comforts and even luxuries, while the Confederates were
poorly clothed and fed. Their sufferings during this bitter cold winter
could not have been endured but for the food and clothing sent from
their homes. Officers and men fared alike; the resources of the
Confederacy were at a low ebb.
Mrs. Stuart was boarding at Orange Courthouse, and, as General Stuart’s
headquarters were near by, he was able to spend some time with his
family again. And a very happy family it was now, for on the ninth of
the previous October, the very day that began Stuart’s heavy work in the
Bristoe Campaign, a daughter had come to comfort him and Mrs. Stuart for
the loss of their little Flora. The devoted father named this little
baby Virginia Pelham, in honor of his beloved state and in memory of the
gallant young leader of the Stuart Horse Artillery whom he had loved so
well. The members of General Stuart’s staff were all devoted to this new
member of the family, and General Lee, whose headquarters were not far
distant, came more than once to visit Mrs. Stuart and “Miss Virginia,”
as he called the little lady. The admiration paid his little daughter
gave Stuart great delight.
Late in February, 1864, the Federal cavalry made an attempt to take
Richmond. This movement was known as “Dahlgren’s Raid” and the large
Federal forces were fitted out with great care. But in spite of their
superior numbers, they were driven back by Stuart’s cavalry.
On March 17, General U. S. Grant was placed in command of all the
Federal armies. As it was evident that the great struggle of the year
would take place in Virginia, he took charge of General Meade’s army and
prepared it for the coming campaign. He had an army of 125,000 men,
fully equipped, and with all that money could buy.
At midnight on May 3, the Federal army began to advance. General Lee
permitted it to cross the Rapidan and march into the Wilderness where
the battle of Chancellorsville had been fought the year before. In this
jungle, it would be difficult for the Federals to use their artillery
and they would be compelled to fight at a disadvantage. General Grant
expected General Lee to retreat to a line nearer Richmond, and he was
surprised when his troops plunged into the dense woods and thickets of
the Wilderness to find General Lee ready to fight on ground of his own
choosing.
As soon as the news was received at the cavalry headquarters that the
Federals had crossed the fords of the Rapidan, Stuart set out for his
picket line. He conducted in person the advances of the infantry until
the lines of the enemy were reached, and on May 6 and 7 the great Battle
of the Wilderness raged furiously.
The cavalry did heavy work on the Confederate right. Gunner Neese, in
his diary, tells an interesting anecdote of Stuart on the morning of the
second day’s battle.
He says: “Our orders to hasten to the front this morning at daylight
were pressing and urgent, and we had no time to prepare or eat
breakfast, which greatly ruffled some of our drivers. When we drew near
to the enemy’s line we awaited orders, and one of our drivers was still
going through baby acts about something to eat and having no breakfast.
Just then General Stuart and staff came along and halted a moment right
in the road where we were and heard the grumbling and childish murmuring
of our hungry man, and the general rode up to him and gave him two
biscuits out of his own haversack.”
On the night of May 7, Grant began to move his army by the left flank to
get between Lee and Richmond, but the movement was discovered at once
and Fitz Lee’s cavalry was sent forward to delay the Federals until
Longstreet’s infantry could come up. Fitz Lee’s men were at times
dismounted, and they fought so stubbornly that Grant’s forces were held
in check until the infantry by a rapid night march reached the
entrenchments which had been hastily thrown up near Spotsylvania
Courthouse.
I am going to tell you about the arrival of the infantry and the
beginning of the next morning’s battle in the words of a private of the
First Virginia cavalry.
He says: “We had been fighting and retreating all night, and at last,
when near Spotsylvania Courthouse had thrown up slight entrenchments.
Protected by Breathed’s guns, we were awaiting another attack. Suddenly
we heard the steady march of infantry coming in our rear. The old
fellows came swinging along in the moonlight, each one with his
camp-kettle on his back and his long musket with its gleaming bayonet
resting easily on his shoulder. Each man settled down by a dismounted
trooper, glad to rest a little while, but full of quips and jokes. ‘Look
here sonny,’ said one to me, picking up my carbine, ‘what’s this here
thing for? Ef I was you I’d be feared of it; it might hurt somebody!’
But even talking was not permitted. Officers passed along, enjoining
silence and ordering us not to fire until we could see the whites of the
Yankees’ eyes.
“About daylight we heard loud cheering. Major Breathed had brought off
one of his guns in the face of thousands of the enemy, and they were
cheering! On came a blue line of battle eight deep calling out, ‘Come
out, you dismounted cavalry! We know you are there.’
“Silence reigned behind the earthworks, but every gun was ready. When
the Federals were well over the crest of the hill, the order rang along
the line—‘Steady, aim, fire!’ Bang! went the carbines and muskets, and
with piercing yells the Confederates leaped out of the works and rushed
with gleaming bayonets upon the already retreating foe. The veterans had
delivered so fierce and so well-directed a fire that the attack was not
renewed at that position.”
A short while afterward, Stuart arrived with reenforcements. Major
McClellan was the only member of General Stuart’s staff present during
the brisk skirmishes of the morning. He says that Stuart exposed himself
recklessly to the fire of the Federals, in spite of the earnest request
of the infantry officers that he would retire to a safer position.
He sent Major McClellan on such seemingly unnecessary messages that
after a while that officer thought that General Stuart was trying to
shield him from danger, so he said, “General, my horse is weary. You are
exposing yourself and you are alone. Please let me remain with you.”
But Stuart merely smiled kindly and sent him with another message.
When Grant reached Spotsylvania Courthouse, he decided to send a corps
of cavalry forward on a raid toward Richmond. This force was to cut
Lee’s communication, take Richmond, and be in position to attack the
rear of Lee’s army after Grant crushed him at Spotsylvania. General
Sheridan commanded these troops that started for Richmond, along the
Telegraph Road.
General Fitz Lee who saw them, says: “Ten thousand horsemen riding in a
single road in column of fours made a column thirteen miles in length;
and with flashing sabers and fluttering guidons were an imposing array.”
To contend with this force, Stuart had only three small brigades, yet on
him depended the safety of Richmond and the protection of the rear of
Lee’s army. At Jarrold’s Mill, Wickham’s brigade had a sharp skirmish
with Sheridan’s rear guard and captured a number of prisoners. Yet on
and on marched Sheridan, leaving the Telegraph Road, and going toward
Beaver Dam Station. At Mitchell’s Shop, Sheridan’s rear guard having
been reenforced, made another stand. Wickham attacked again, but would
have been forced back by the greatly-superior numbers of the Federals
had not Stuart and Fitz Lee come up with reenforcements and the Federals
passed on.
At Beaver Dam Station, Stuart left his command a short while to see if
his wife and children, who were near by at the home of Mr. Edmund
Fontaine, had escaped annoyance from the Federals. Having found them
safe and well, he pressed on toward Hanover Junction to place his forces
between Sheridan and Richmond.
Hanover Junction was reached after dark and Stuart proposed an all-night
march. Fitz Lee’s men, however, were worn out with fighting and marching
and, at the request of their commander, Stuart at last consented that
the troopers should rest until one o’clock. He directed that his trusted
adjutant, Major McClellan, should remain awake to arouse the sleeping
men, and to see them mounted and on the march at the time mentioned.
Major McClellan in his _Life of Stuart_, says: “When the troops had
moved out, I returned to Stuart and awoke him and his staff. While they
were preparing to move, I lay down to catch, if possible, a few moments’
rest. The party rode off as I lay in a half-conscious condition, and I
heard some one say, ‘General, here’s McClellan fast asleep. Must I wake
him?’ ‘No’ he replied, ‘he has been watching while we were asleep. Leave
a courier with him and tell him to come on when his nap is out.’”
After taking a short rest, Major McClellan rejoined General Stuart just
as he passed the road leading to Ashland. A squadron of Confederate
cavalry had come upon a force of Federal cavalry in that town, and had
dispersed it with great loss to the latter.
Stuart reached Yellow Tavern, about eight miles from Richmond, about ten
o’clock on the morning of May 11. He had beaten Sheridan in the race to
Richmond and placed himself between that city and Sheridan’s forces. He
at once posted his small force to meet the Federal advance. Wickham was
placed on the right of the Telegraph Road and Lomax on the left. Two
guns were placed in the road and one farther to the left. The whole
force was dismounted, except a portion of the cavalry which was held in
reserve.
General Stuart then sent Major McClellan into Richmond to find out the
condition of affairs in the city. General Bragg, in charge of the
defense, replied that he had enough men to hold the trenches and that he
was hourly expecting reenforcements from Petersburg—that he wished
General Stuart to remain on the Federal flank and to retard its progress
as much as possible.
General Stuart’s last official dispatch written on the morning of May
11, the day that he was wounded, showed his wonderful determination and
unfailing cheerfulness in the face of danger and difficulty, and was
also a tribute to the men who fought under him.
He wrote: “May 11th, 1864, 6:30 A. M. Fighting against immense odds of
Sheridan—my men and horses are tired, hungry, and jaded, _but all
right_.”
About four o’clock that same day, Sheridan attacked the whole line,
throwing a brigade of cavalry upon the left. Stuart galloped to this
point, and found that the Federals had captured his two guns and had
driven back almost the entire left. He at once ordered a reserve
squadron to charge the advancing Federals. Just as the latter were being
driven back in a hand-to-hand combat, General Stuart rode up to where
Captain Dorsey and about eighty dismounted men who had collected on the
Telegraph Road, were firing at the retreating Federals. As the
struggling mass fell back, one of the Federals who had been unhorsed in
the fight, turned and fired his pistol directly at General Stuart. The
fatal shot entered his body just above the sword-belt.
Captain Dorsey saw that the general was wounded and hurried to his
assistance. He tried to lead the general’s horse to a safer place, but
it became very unruly. General Stuart insisted on being lifted off and
allowed to rest against a tree. Then he ordered the captain to go back
to his men, but Captain Dorsey refused to do so until his general had
been taken to the rear. There were now only a few of Stuart’s men
between him and the Federals and for a few moments there was great
danger of his being captured.
But soon another horse was brought, and the general was taken to a safer
place by Captain Dorsey and put in charge of Private Wheatley. Wheatley
speedily procured an ambulance, and took the general to the rear. Here
Dr. Fontaine and two of the general’s aides, Venable and Hullihen, took
charge of their wounded chief and started at once to Richmond.
As the ambulance passed through the disordered Confederate ranks the
general called to his men, “Go back! go back and do your duty as I have
done, and our country will be safe. Go back! go back! I had rather die
than be whipped.”
These were his last words upon the battlefield, and they carried to his
men a message, full of the spirit of their beloved chief. They did ‘go
back,’ and fought so well that Sheridan was finally driven from
Richmond.
The ambulance had to take a rough and roundabout way, in order to avoid
the Federals, and it did not reach Richmond until after dark. The
general was taken to the home of his brother-in-law, Dr. Charles Brewer.
He had suffered greatly on the trip, but had borne the pain with
fortitude and cheerfulness.
The next morning, Major McClellan, who according to Stuart’s orders had
remained on the battlefield, rode into the city to deliver to General
Bragg a message from General Fitz Lee now in command of the cavalry. As
soon as he had delivered his message, he went at once to the bedside of
his wounded general. Inflammation had set in, and the doctors said there
was no hope of Stuart’s recovery. I shall let McClellan tell you in his
own words about the general’s last hours.
He says: “After delivering General Fitz Lee’s message to General Bragg,
I repaired to the bedside of my dying chief. He was calm and composed,
in the full possession of his mind. Our conversation was, however,
interrupted by paroxysms of suffering. He directed me to make the proper
disposal of his official papers, and to send his personal effects to his
wife.
[Illustration: THE HOUSE IN WHICH STUART DIED
This house has been torn down. The building erected on its site bears a
tablet in memory of Stuart.]
“He then said: ‘I wish you to take one of my horses and Venable the
other. Which is the heavier rider?’
“I replied that I thought Venable was.
“‘Then,’ he said, ‘let Venable have the gray horse and you take the
bay.’
“Soon he spoke again: ‘You will find in my hat a small Confederate flag,
which a lady of Columbia, South Carolina, sent me, with the request that
I would wear it upon my horse in a battle and then return it to her.
Send it to her.’”
Later, Major McClellan found the flag inside the lining of the general’s
hat. Among his papers was the letter conveying the lady’s request.
“Again he said: ‘My spurs which I have always worn in battle, I promised
to give to Mrs. Lilly Lee, of Shepherdstown, Virginia. My sword I leave
to my son.’
“While I sat by his bed, the sound of cannon outside the city was heard.
He turned to me eagerly and inquired what it meant. I explained that
Gracey’s brigade and other troops had moved out against the rear of the
enemy on the Brooke turnpike and that Fitz Lee would endeavor to oppose
their advance at Meadow Bridge.
“He turned his eyes upward, and exclaimed earnestly, ‘God grant that
they may be successful.’ Then turning his head aside, he said with a
sigh: ‘But I must be prepared for another world.’
“The thought of duty was ever uppermost in his mind, and after listening
to the distant cannonading for a few moments, he said, ‘Major, Fitz Lee
may need you.’ I understood his meaning and pressed his hand in a last
farewell. As I left his chamber, President Davis entered.
“Taking the general’s hand he asked: ‘General, how do you feel?’
“He replied: ‘Easy, but willing to die if God and my country think I
have fulfilled my destiny, and done my duty.’
“The Rev. Dr. Peterkin visited him, and prayed with him. He requested
Dr. Peterkin to sing ‘Rock of Ages,’ and joined in the singing of the
hymn.
“During the afternoon, he asked Dr. Brewer whether it were not possible
for him to survive the night. The doctor frankly told him that death was
close at hand.
“He then said: ‘I am resigned if it be God’s will; but I would like to
see my wife. But God’s will be done.’
“Again he said to Dr. Brewer: ‘I am going fast now; I am resigned. God’s
will be done.’”
Major Von Borcke, General Stuart’s former aide who had not yet recovered
from his severe wound, was also in Richmond. After McClellan went away,
Von Borcke remained at his chieftain’s side. He tells us that he sat on
the bed, holding the general’s hand and handing him crushed ice which he
ate in great abundance and which was applied to cool his burning wound.
Everyone was hoping that Mrs. Stuart would arrive in time to be with him
before he passed from earth.
Finally the general drew Von Borcke to him, and after bidding him
farewell said, “Look after my family after I am gone and be the same
true friend to my wife and children that you have been to me.” These
were his last connected words.
At eight o’clock the end came, and it was three hours later before Mrs.
Stuart arrived. The destruction of bridges and a fearful storm had
caused delay in the trip from Beaver Dam. Owing to the telegraph lines
being broken, the tidings that General Stuart was wounded did not reach
his wife until noon on May 12.
At the time of his death, May 12, Stuart was just thirty-one years old.
Yet through his high ideals, his devotion to duty, and his military
genius, he had risen to a position of great trust and honor in the
service of his country for which he laid down his life. Such a death,
crowning such a life, is glorious and inspiring. One feels that
Horatius, the noble Roman, indeed spoke truly when he said:
“And how can man die better,
Than by facing fearful odds,
For the ashes of his fathers
And the temples of his gods?”