Life of J. E. B. StuartWilliamson, Mary L. (Mary Lynn)
History
Life of J. E. B. Stuart
Williamson, Mary L. (Mary Lynn)
Stuart, Jeb, 1833-1864
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.’
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account