Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 23.djvu/209

 ./. A'. H. S

We have said that James E. B. Stuart was a warrior by instinct, and his whole life shows it. He was a born soldier. From his youth he was noted lor a daring enthusiasm which gave promise of what the mail would hi-; and his genius soon showt-d itself, even in the limited sphere afforded by the wilds of New Mexico. It was in 1854 that young Stuart received his commission in the United States army as second lieutenant in a mounted rifle corps. A year later he was transferred to the first regular cavalry, with General Johnston, now commanding the Confederate army in Georgia, as his lieutenant- colonel, and Sumner, who died lately in the Federal service as colo- nel. Under him, now fighting with tribes of hostile Indians, now beating up groups of marauding banditti, Stuart laid the foundation of that reputation as a dashing cavalry officer which he has since established on the plains of his native State. And amongst the offi- cers of that famous regiment there is many a tradition of Stuart's bold riding and dashing charges. When the present war broke out he ceased to hold a commission in the United States army, notwith- standing the offer of a captaincy by Mr. Lincoln's cabinet, and was one of the first officers appointed to the command of a Virginia cavalry regiment. At the battle of Bull Run he was placed at the head of the small cavalry force co-operating with Johnston, and in the desultory fighting which took place in Virginia after that battle, he at once established that superiority of the Confederate cavalry over their opponents, which, despite heavy odds and many obvious disadvan- tages, has never been doubtful in Virginia. His first great exploit, however, and the one which brought him at once into note as one of the best cavalry leaders of the day, was his famous ride around McClellan's army in the Peninsula in the month of June, 1862. With a force of about 600 sabres and two pieces of flying artillery, he sallied out from the Confederate lines at Richmond, reached the Pamunkey, destroying supplies, making captures, and creating con- sternation wherever he went; clearing all obstacles, charging wherever an enemy presented himself, and finally crossing the Chickahominy at Bottom's Bridge, after having ridden round McClellan's enormous army, and ascertaining all that was necessary for the execution of that brilliant movement which resulted in the defeat of McClellan and his ultimate withdrawal from the Peninsula.

Once again Stuart was the herald of disaster to the army of the Potomac, in the month of August, 1862, when General Pope was in command. With a comparatively small force he made a dash upon the right flank of the enemy, penetrating to the headquarters of