“Badly,” Stuart replied, “but look out, Fitz! Yonder they come!” A glance showed all. In the midst of a wild uproar of clashing sabres, quick shots, and resounding cries, the Federal cavalry were rushing forward to overwhelm the disordered lines. Stuart’s eye flashed for the last time. Turning to General Fitzhugh Lee, he exclaimed in a full, sonorous voice:-- “Go ahead, Fitz, old fellow! I know you will do what is right!”[1] [Footnote 1: His words.] This was the last order he ever gave upon the field. As he spoke, his head sank, his eyes closed, and he was borne toward the rear. There was scarcely time to save him from capture. His wound seemed to have been the signal for his lines to break. They had now given way everywhere--the enemy were pressing them with loud shouts. Fighting with stubborn desperation, they fell back toward the Chickahominy, which they crossed, hotly pressed by the victorious enemy. Stuart had been placed in an ambulance and borne across the stream, where Dr. Randolph and Dr. Fontaine made a brief examination of his wound. It was plainly mortal--but he was hastily driven, by way of Mechanicsville, into Richmond. His hard fighting had saved the city. When Sheridan attacked, he was repulsed. But the capital was dearly purchased. Twenty-four hours afterward Stuart was dead. [Illustration: DEATH OF STUART] The end of the great cavalier had been as serene as his life was stormy. His death was that of the Christian warrior, who bows to the will of God, and accepts whatever His loving hand decrees for him. He asked repeatedly that his favorite hymns should be sung for him; and when President Davis visited him, and asked:-- “General, how do you feel?” “Easy, but willing to die,” he said, “if God and my country think I have fulfilled my destiny, and done my duty.”[1] [Footnote 1: His words.] As night came, he requested his physician to inform him if he thought he would live till morning. The physician replied that his death was rapidly approaching, when he faintly bowed his head, and murmured:-- “I am resigned, if it be God’s will. I should like to see my wife, but God’s will be done.”[1] [Footnote 1: His words.] When the proposed attack upon Sheridan, near Mechanicsville, was spoken of in his presence, he said:-- “God grant that it may be successful. I wish I could be there.” * Turning his face toward the pillow, he added, with tears in his eyes, “but I must prepare for another world.”[1] [Footnote 1: His words.] Feeling now that his end was near, he made his last dispositions. “You will find in my hat,” he said to a member of his staff, “a little Confederate flag, which a lady of Columbia, South Carolina, sent me, requesting that I would wear it on my horse in battle, and return it to her. Send it to her.”[1] [Footnote 1: His words.] He gave then the name of the lady, and added:--