Position at Antietam
Commander, Cavalry Division, Army of Northern Virginia (Age 29 at the battle)
Personal
1833-1864 Virginia
Nickname: JEB
Born in Patrick County, VA.; eighth child of Archibald Stuart, veteran of the War of 1812, slaveholder, attorney and politician. Married in 1855 to Flora Cooke, daughter of Colonel Philip St. George Cooke, his commanding officer (Cooke was a Union cavalry general during the war). One daughter, Flora
Education
West Point Class of 1854, ranked 13th of 46. Robert E. Lee was superintendent of the Academy while Stuart attended. Classmates: Oliver Howard, Stephen Weed, Dorsey Pender, and Stephen D. Lee. Commissioned in the First Cavalry.
Mexican War
N/A
Other military career highlights
Kansas Disturbances; served under Edwin V. Sumner. Aide to Robert E. Lee during Harpers Ferry expedition (John Brown raid,1859). Kiowa-Comanche Expedition (1860). Resigned from the Army on May 14, 1861.
Civilian career highlights
N/A
Civil War
Colonel of 1st Cavalry Regiment and fought with distinction at First Bull Run; commanded a cavalry brigade under Joseph Johnston on the Peninsula; brilliant ride around McClellan’s Army in June; Promoted to Major General on July 25 and command of the cavalry division. Fought at Second Manassas,
Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville. Temporary command of Jackson’s corps at Chancellorsville after Jackson’s wounding. Rode around Army of Potomac again during Gettysburg Campaign, not as successful; Union army surprised Lee at Gettysburg. His command upgraded to a Cavalry Corps in September 1863.
Postwar
N/A
Death
Mortally wounded at Yellow Tavern on May 11, 1864; died May 12, 1864, age 31. Last words: “I am going fast now. I am resigned. God’s will be done.”
Quotes
“”He is a rare man, wonderfully endowed by nature with the qualities necessary for an officer of light cavalry. Calm, firm, acute, active, and enterprising, I know of no one more competent than he.” Joseph Johnston
“He never brought me a piece of false information.” Robert E. Lee
“In this movement Major-General Stuart has the advance and acted his part well. This officer rendered valuable service throughout the day. His bold use of artillery secured for us an important position, which, had the enemy possessed, might have commanded our left.” Thomas J. Jackson
“I often spoke of him to General Lee as of the best material for cavalry service, but needing an older head to instruct and regulate him. The General [Lee] was fond of him and gave way to him to the disadvantage of both.” James Longstreet
“[Jackson and Stuart]”were the only two men I ever knew whom I thought unconscious of the feeling of fear.” William Blackford
“Stuart’s fondness for the use of artillery was almost excessive.” Henry McClellan
“Raiding with General Stuart is poor fun and a hard business. Thunder, lightning, rain, storm nor darkness can stop him when he is on a warm fresh trail of Yankee game.” George Neese
“Personally, I never liked or admired Stuart & still believe he was vain & pretentious & greatly overrated as a soldier [but] Stuart’s reputation in the corps then was, in some respects second only to Jackson’s. Jackson had great admiration for him as a soldier…[and] knew the men of his corps would have more confidence in him than any man who would take his place.” Henry Kyd Douglas
“A military man without aspirations is like a vessel without sail-a compass without the needle.” JEB Stuart
“I never expect to come out of this war alive.” JEB Stuart