Spurs That Jingle - The Death of General Jeb Stuart

The Dog Days

The day was May 12, 1964. Jeb Stuart dismounted and examined the ground around Yellow Tavern. The message from Richmond had been wrong. Sheridan had not yet passed this way. Stuart was in front of, not behind, the Union cavalry. His troops were put into position. Wickham was on the right with most of his troops parallel to the Telegraph Road. Lomax was on the left with his flank West of the road and almost at right angles to it. Gordon was off fighting a flanking action on the enemy's rear. Unless Bragg got reinforcements to him soon, two brigades were all Stuart had to face the strength of Sheridan's forces.

The Lull before the Storm

For an hour or more, Stuart, McClellan, Venable, Hullihen and other members of the staff sat in the shade out of sight near Yellow Tavern and waited. There was lull in the fighting but no one was fooled by it. Movement, in the woods first and then the open field, was observed at 4:00 o'clock. It was caused by Union troops who were advancing steadily and deliberately on the middle and to the right. Stuart called for his staff to follow and rode up to the gun on the hill above the road. The gunners were in a state of depression and near panic. Dead horses and men were all around them. Stuart remained in the saddle, displaying his causal, good humored composure, hoping to transfer some of it to the men. He knew he was in danger sitting his horse on top of the hill, but he had to do it. Venable yelled for him to get down, but Stuart laughed. "I don't reckon I am in any danger," he said. "I never was before."

A Desperate Situation

Stuart called for Venable to ride with him to see how it was happening on the left. They found the line broken and the men close to their limit of ability to resist. Stuart knew that a retreat was the end. He planned to attack and told Venable to go get Lomax and tell him to form up for a counter. Stuart then rode on to the extremity of the left, whistling as he went, trying to calm the men. Stuart stopped at a rail fence and observed that this flank was up in the air and would be wiped out by attack. There was nothing he could do.

There were no troops to cover. Stuart rode up to privates Oliver and Pitts of the First Virginia and placed the head of his horse between them. "What do you say, we just wait here for those boys to attack?" The privates knew there was little hope of survival but they were buoyed in spirit by Stuart and his calmness and joked with him.

The Fight is On

The 5th and 6th Michigan were not long in obliging, and, while the attack was not designed to "drive home," it was so fierce that it pushed the whole left and part of the center 400 yards back to a ravine. Stuart stood his ground as the Michigan boys sped by, drawing his revolver and emptying it into the surging troops. The Blue Coats were thrown back and soon disappeared out of sight. At that moment, Stuart felt a shock that threw him off balance. A cry went up from the men. "General, you're hit." In the confusion, no one saw the Federal trooper sneak off down the fence row, his pistol smoking. "Are you wounded badly, General?" "I am afraid I am," Stuart said, never changing his tone from the calm voice giving commands a few minutes earlier. He called for the courier and told him, "Go at once and tell General Fitz Lee and Dr. Fontaine to come here." Captain Dorsey took the reins of Stuart's horse and tried to lead him but the one-man horse would not allow it. The animals became unmanageable. Stuart was in too much pain to sit the unruly horse and had to be helped down. Stuart told Captain Dorsey to prop him against the tree and to leave him there, but he would not do so. Fitz Lee arrived on the scene and had Stuart taken back to a place he felt was safe from attack. At that point Stuart ordered them all to leave him and go back to the battle. The enemy must not be allowed to break through. Richmond would be taken if it happened.

General Stuart is Taken to the Rear

Stuart waited quietly while Wheatley found an ambulance. Venable ordered the ambulance to remove Stuart from the field. Stuart consented but did not give over the command just yet. "Go back and do your duty, as I have done mine," he ordered the sorrowing officers. As they moved off, he shouted after them, "I had rather die than be whipped." Dr. K. B. Fontaine reached Stuart while the ambulance was still on its way. He had Stuart gently turned on his side so he could inspect his back. The surgeon then saw that Stuart had been shot through the stomach and would not live. He recommended that Stuart take a drink of whisky but Stuart refused saying that he had promised his mother he would not take even a sip of the stuff.

A Long, Painful Ride to Richmond

To avoid capture the ambulance had to make numerous detours, going down bumpy lanes, on its journey to Richmond. When Stuart had moments of relief, he talked with McClellan. His first care was for his personal papers which must be forwarded through secure and proper channels to safe keeping. "I wish for you to take one of my horses," he told McClellan, "and Venable the other. Which ever of you is the heavier rider, take the bigger horse." Stuart paused, then continued. "My spurs which I have always worn in battle are promised to Lilly Lee of Shepherdstown, Virginia...and...and the other spurs to Lilly Parran." "But, Sir, Flo...Mrs. Stuart . . ." "To Lilly Parran; is that understood?" McClellan was troubled in his mind. How could he do that, even if he could get the spurs from Flo, which he very much doubted. It was said to be bad luck to fail to carry out dying man's request, but. . .

The President Pays a Last Visit

Jefferson Davis came in and grasped Stuart's hand. "How do you feel, General?" he asked earnestly. "Easy," Stuart answered in a calm voice, "but willing to die if God and my country think I have fulfilled my destiny and done my duty." During the night Stuart had fits of delirium, shouting orders and reliving dramatic battles. At 7:00 A.M. the clergymen came in with the physicians. At 7:38 he rose up and said, "I am going fast now. I am resigned; God's will be done." Then Jeb Stuart rode off with other horsemen to glory on different fields.

Earl Cripe, Phd

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