92

Southern Historical Society Papers.

when he approached the locality of White Oak Swamp, for this was
occupied by General Hooker, who held a position on the extreme
left of the Federal army, extending within a very short distance of
James river, and there was but one public highway between Hooker
and the river, and this was the road this fearless cavalryman was
upon and the only one by which he could reach the Confederate
lines. Hooker could have closed this avenue easily had he been
aware of his approach; but there was no demonstration whatever as
this bold raider dashed into the lines of his friends with laughter and
a merry twinkle in his eye. This feat has now placed him in a
friendly and genial atmosphere; but he still has fifteen more miles to
ride before he can reach the headquarters of his chief, and he hurries
on to Fulton, at which point he gave orders to his guide to inform
Governor John Letcher of his safe arrival and also that of his wife.
He then went immediately to inform General Lee of all he had done.
This is an inexhaustible theme, and it is impossible for me in these
remarks to follow this chivalrous knight through all of his campaigns
and to give you the faintest record of his great deeds. I followed
him from the Peninsula through nearly all of his battles in Virginia
and Maryland. I was with him on his advance into Pennsylvania,
and in that stubbornly contested battle of Gettysburg, with him while
covering the retreat from that bloody and ill-fated field, and I could
give you some interesting incidents of it all if I had the time.
was continuous fighting from the time Stuart crossed the Potomac
until his return to Virginia.

There

In manoeuvering cavalry there has never been his equal in this country. He could always handle his command in such manner as to win a victory with anything like equal numbers of men opposed to him. He was a man who possessed a heart that was warm and generous, and one that could be easily touched. In proof of this, I will mention an incident which occurred on the Rappahannock, while the army was at rest. I had a young man in my signal corps who applied to me for a furlough. But I declined approving it, on the ground of his having just returned to camp from a leave of absence of ten days, and there were others who had not been to their homes for a year, and who were anxious to do so. Finding he could not get my approval, he sent his application through an irregular channel, setting forth the fact that his object in going home was to get married. Stuart, without knowing he had just returned to duty from home (for the applicant was careful in concealing this fact), returned the application to me with this indorsement: "Why

Ge

not let the applicant go
thwarted." He did g
have known him to lie
weather, giving as a re
fortably than his men.
has greatly depleted th
that survive revere his
the ties that bind old
destroyed. Men who
experienced hardships
under the same banner
for the other. We ha
who followed Napoleo
terlitz, and in his reve

over treacherous and
storms, in his disastro
after Napoleon's arm
ketry and the roar of
the English governm
the French waters to
to his beloved France
ished by a cruel foe.
with the greatest vene
in the Church of the
The most interesti
France was the gath
sion to their deep gr
was this love and ad
the greatest monarch

I have already said
made his mark. B
success in any spher
nessing and participa
organization, named
manded, too, by an
and brilliant record
County. For there
very remote from t

which has become s
spread in song and
I believe the da

not let the applicant go home? Such good intentions should not be thwarted." He did go, and the nuptials were consummated. I have known him to lie on the ground, and exposed to all kinds of weather, giving as a reason that he did not wish to fare more comfortably than his men. Time, that great destroyer of all mankind, has greatly depleted the squadrons he put in the field; still those that survive revere his memory, and will ever honor his name, for the ties that bind old soldiers cannot for light and trivial causes be destroyed. Men who have espoused a common cause and who have experienced hardships together, who have touched elbows and fought under the same banner, always have mutual regard and esteem one for the other. We have an illustration of this in those brave men who followed Napoleon in his victories at Jena, Marengo and Austerlitz, and in his reverses at Leipsic and Waterloo, in his marches over treacherous and rugged roads, in the midst of ice and snow storms, in his disastrous campaigns in Russia. In 1840, long years after Napoleon's army had been disbanded, and the rattle of musketry and the roar of artillery had been silenced, by the consent of the English government, a small French squadron went out from the French waters to convey the remains of the mighty conqueror to his beloved France from that lonely isle to which he had been banished by a cruel foe. On their arrival at Havre, they were received with the greatest veneration; also at Paris, where they were interred in the Church of the Invalides on the 18th of December, 1840.

The most interesting feature in the proceedings on their arrival in France was the gathering of surviving veterans, who gave expression to their deep grief by weeping like children over his dust. It was this love and admiration of his soldiery that made him one of the greatest monarchs that ever reigned in Europe.

I have already said Stuart chose arms as a profession, in which he made his mark. But I feel satisfied he would have been a grand success in any sphere of life. I am pleased to see here to-day, witnessing and participating in these ceremonies, a magnificent military organization, named in honor of our ideal cavalryman, and commanded, too, by an old soldier who followed him. His great worth and brilliant record has not been forgotten in Richmond or his native county. For there nestles an enterprising and prosperous town, not very remote from the North Carolina border, that bears his name, which has become so illustrious. And as time rolls on his fame will spread in song and story.

I believe the day will come, and I trust it is in the near future,

when a grand monument will be erected by that lovely city he lost his life defending. In the hurry of business pursuits and other causes, meritorious acts of public men are sometimes overlooked for a time. It was only on the 14th of this month, in the historic village of Brooklyn, Conn., there was dedicated an equestrian statue to General Israel Putnam for great military deeds performed more than a century ago, which consumed long years in memorializing the Connecticut Legislature for funds sufficient to pay for it. The statue stands near the den where he shot the wolf, and from which he dragged him feet foremost in the presence of his alarmed neighbors.

I was not on this ill-starred field; but it is well known to the world the formidable and fearless force of cavalry and artillery with which Stuart had to contend. It has been estimated at more than twelve thousand, commanded by a skilled and intrepid leader, that had for his object the capture and sack of Richmond, and was rapidly approaching that city, when Stuart intercepted him at this point, and had his first tilt with him on the Telegraph Road. About 4 o'clock a brigade of mounted cavalry was thrown suddenly on the extreme left of the Confederate line, to which Stuart hastened, for he knew it was a weak point to which the enemy had directed this mounted charge. In this charge the enemy captured a battery on the left and repulsed nearly the entire left line. Immediately on the Telegraph Road, at a point Captain Dorsey occupied, about eighty men had collected. In the midst of these Stuart threw himself, and by his directions inspired and held them firm, while the enemy, with the quickness and violence of a cyclone, swept by them. With these valorous men he fired in their flank and rear as they passed. These brave men were met by the 1st Virginia Cavalry and driven back. As they retreated, one of their number, who had been dismounted, inflicted the fatal wound by pistol, from which Stuart died the next day. But before this sad catastrophe occurred he had struck the enemy, hip and thigh, with that violence with which Samson smote the Philistines, that caused him to recoil and to abandon the capture of Richmond. As Stuart was conveyed by loving hands from the field, he observed some of his men leaving the scene of action. He called out to them: "Go back! go back! and do your duty as I have done mine, and our country will be safe. Go back! go back! I had rather die than be whipped."

While dying in yon

These were his last orders on the battlefield. city the next day, he heard the roar of artillery, and turned to Major

McClellan, who was by his bedside, and asked him what it meant. He was told that Gracie's brigade and other troops had moved out against the enemy's rear on Brook turnpike. He turned his eyes upward and exclaimed: "God grant they may be successful, but," said he "I must be prepared for another world."

I have already alluded to the vigilance of this officer while on the out-post and elsewhere. In support of what I have already said, I exhibit here to-day a field telegram sent by him to me. It is dated at Orange Courhouse, March 10th, 1864. The envelope is the original and the grime of war is upon its face, but it is none the less interesting on this account. It was sent by telegraph to me at Hamilton's Crossing, and it reads as follows:

CAPT. R. E. FRAYSER,

Watch the Potomac closely, to see if Kilpatrick's command

passes.

J. E. B. STUART,
Major-General.

It will be remembered that in the early part of March, 1864, Kilpatrick made a raid on Richmond with nearly thirty-six hundred cavalry, with the intention of liberating the Federal prisoners, and capturing Richmond. The disasters of this expedition are too well known for me to narrate them here.

An effectionate brother has erected to Stuart a massive granite shaft on a beautiful knoll in Hollywood, near the rippling waters of the majestic James, and in the shade of that thriving and picturesque city for which he lost his life while the Mede was thundering at its gates, and when the Persian was almost on the throne.

In closing I will give you a pen picture of this conspicuous cavalryman. Some of his old soldiers may recognize it: A young man with florid complexion, five feet ten inches in height, perfectly erect, with broad shoulders and a flowing auburn beard, blue eyes, prominent nose, lofty and expanded brow, a well developed head, and a veritaable athlete in physique. But still this picture would be incomplete if I omitted the felt hat with black plume and elaborate yellow silk sash, heavy jack boots and spurs. All of these were ever kept scrupulously neat. Thus I may present you the typical cavalryman"Jeb" Stuart.

[From the Richmond, Va., Times, July 2, 1896.]

RETREAT OF THE CABINET.

Described by President Davis' Confederate Secretary.

THE GREAT CHIEF'S NOBLE CONDUCT.

He Cheered His Faithful Adherents With Words of Encouragement— Little Children Blessed Him and Brought Him Flowers.

[This deeply interesting narrative was published on the date of the laying of the corner-stone of the monument to President Jefferson Davis, in Monroe Park, at Richmond, Va., July 2, 1896. Captain Clark has been a constant supporter, and is a life member of the Southern Historical Society, and has been meritedly highly successful in his progressive business enterprises.-ED.]

A notable personage who comes into considerable prominence at this time is Micajah H. Clark, of Clarksville, Tenn., who served for a period as acting treasurer of the Confederate States of America, and again as confidential secretary to President Jefferson Davis. At the time of the evacuation of Richmond Mr. Clark was acting in the capacity of chief and confidential clerk of the Executive Office. Under the orders of the Confederate President, he packed up all the papers of the office, and left with Mr. Davis and his Cabinet. At Danville the departments were reopened and a temporary capitol was established there. Upon receipt of dispatches, April 10th, conveying the news of the surrender of General Lee's army, the President and Cabinet retired to Greensboro, N. C., where General Beauregard had his headquarters. The party afterwards returned to Charlotte, remaining there during the truce declared between Johnston and Sherman. At Charlotte the President gave Mr. Clark a staff appointment with military rank.

While in Richmond Mr. Clark was, like all clerks, in the Local Defence Troops. Beginning as a private in the company, he was assigned to duty in the Medical Purveyor's office. From Charlotte he went with President Davis and his party to Abbeville, S. C., where the last Cabinet meeting was held. From that place the party repaired to Washington, Ga., where the Confederate Cabinet dispersed, Hon. John H. Reagan alone remaining with the President.