As he spoke, his
head sank, his eyes closed, and he was borne toward the rear.
There was scarcely time to save him from capture. His wound seemed to
have been the signal for his lines to break. They had now given way
everywhere--the enemy were pressing them with loud shouts. Fighting
with stubborn desperation, they fell back toward the Chickahominy,
which they crossed, hotly pressed by the victorious enemy.
Stuart had been placed in an ambulance and borne across the stream,
where Dr. Randolph and Dr. Fontaine made a brief examination of his
wound. It was plainly mortal--but he was hastily driven, by way of
Mechanicsville, into Richmond.
His hard fighting had saved the city. When Sheridan attacked, he was
repulsed.
But the capital was dearly purchased. Twenty-four hours afterward
Stuart was dead.
[Illustration: DEATH OF STUART]
The end of the great cavalier had been as serene as his life was
stormy. His death was that of the Christian warrior, who bows to the
will of God, and accepts whatever His loving hand decrees for him.
He asked repeatedly that his favorite hymns should be sung for him; and
when President Davis visited him, and asked:--
"General, how do you feel?"
"Easy, but willing to die," he said, "if God and my country think I
have fulfilled my destiny, and done my duty.
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