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440 as an officer in the United States Army was accepted on the 7th of May.

His first commission in the Confederate service was that of lieutenant colonel of infantry, dated 10th May, 1861, with orders to report to Col. T. J. Jackson, at Harper's Ferry. This commission was issued by the State of Virginia.

At the beginning of the war the impression prevailed that the cavalry was a comparatively unimportant arm of the service. The infantry and artillery attracted public attention, and into these branches pressed those ardent spirits who were naturally desirous of promotion and distinction in the service of their country. Among the officers of the old army reluctance was manifested to entering the cavalry service; and no one presented himself who seemed fitted for the duty of organizing the scattered cavalry companies into an efficient command.

I give the following circumstance as narrated to me by Stuart himself.

At a meeting for consultation of officers belonging to the command at Harper's Ferry, the question was discussed who should command the cavalry. Sharing the common reluctance to entering this service; believing that he would thereby forfeit his own prospects of rapid promotion; yet sensible of the imperative need that some one should organize the outpost service of the army; believing moreover that his own education in Indian warfare and frontier service, in which he had been constantly engaged for six years, fitted him for the required duties; he felt constrained to lay aside his personal preference and to offer his services for the position. The assignment was made and he entered at once upon his duties. Now every energy was devoted to the instruction of his officers and men. Day and night he was upon the picket line. A new spirit was infused into a languid service. The cavalry commenced to respect themselves, and to appreciate the importance of their duties; and soon both officers and men learned that an eye was upon them from which no dereliction of duty could escape, but which was equally ready to mark out and reward any exhibition of skill and gallantry.

On the 16th July, 1861, he received from the State of Virginia his commission as Colonel of Cavalry. On the 24th September of the same year he was made Brigadier-General by the government of the Confederate States; and on the 25th of July, 1862, he was commissioned Major-General by the same authority.

The limits of this address will not permit a detailed account of Stuart's services at the battles of the First Manassas, of Williamsburg