On
the contrary, his spirits were buoyant beyond example, almost; and,
riding on with General Fitz Lee, he sang in his gallant voice his
favorite ditties "Come out of the Wilderness!" and "Jine the Cavalry!"
As he rode on thus, he was the beau ideal of a cavalier. His seat in
the saddle was firm; his blue eyes dazzling; his heavy mustache curled
with laughter at the least provocation. Something in this man seemed to
spring forward to meet danger. Peril aroused and strung him. All his
energies were stimulated by it. In that ride through the May forest, to
attack Sheridan, and arrest him or die, Stuart's bearing and expression
were superbly joyous and inspiring. His black plume floated in the
spring breeze, like some knight-errant's; and he went to battle humming
a song, resolved to conquer or fall.
Riding beside him, I found my eyes incessantly attracted to his proud
face; and now I see the great cavalier as then, clearly with the eyes
of memory. What a career had been his! what a life of battles!
As we went on through the spring woods, amid the joyous songs of birds,
all the long, hard combats of this man passed before me like an immense
panorama. The ceaseless scouting and fighting in the Shenandoah Valley;
the charge and route of the red-legged "Zouaves" at Manassas; the
falling back to the Peninsula, and the fighting all through Charles
City; the famous ride around McClellan; the advance and combats on the
Rapidan and Rappahannock, after Cedar Mountain; the night attack on
Catlett's, when he captured Pope's coat and papers; the march on
Jackson's flank, and the capture of Manassas; the advance into
Maryland; the fights at Frederick, Crampton's, and Boonsboro', with the
hard rear-guard work, as Lee retired to Sharpsburg; his splendid
handling of artillery on the left wing of the army there; the retreat,
covered by his cavalry; the second ride around McClellan, and safe
escape from his clutches; the bitter conflicts at Upperville and
Barbee's, as Lee fell back; the hard fighting thereafter, on the banks
of the Rappahannock; the "crowding 'em with artillery," on the night of
Fredericksburg; the winter march to Dumfries; the desperate battle at
Kelly's Ford; the falling back before Hooker; the battle of
Chancellorsville, when he succeeded Jackson; the stubborn wrestle of
Fleetwood; the war of giants below Upperville; the advance across
Maryland into Pennsylvania, when the long march was strewed all over
with battles, at Westminister, Hanover, Carlisle, Gettysburg, where he
met and repulsed the best cavalry of the Federal army; the retreat from
Gettysburg, with the tough affair near Boonsboro'; guarding the rear of
the army as it again crossed the Potomac; then the campaign of October,
ending with Kilpatrick's route at Buckland; the assault on Meade's head
of column, when he came over to Mine Run; the bold attack on his rear
there; and the hard, incessant fighting since Grant had come over to
the Wilderness;--I remembered all these splendid scenes and illustrious
services as I rode on beside Stuart, through the fields and forests of
Hanover, and thought, "This is one of those great figures which live
forever in history, and men's memories!"
To-day, I know that I was not mistaken, or laboring under the influence
of undue affection and admiration.
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