Tales from Tennessee and Beyond: Jeb Stuart

Jeb Stuart, also known as J.E.B. Stuart was a army officer who served in the Civil War. He started out serving with the United States, but switched his allegiance to the Confederacy during the Civil War. Stuart was born on a plantation in Virginia. His ancestors had served in the Revolutionary War. He decided to attended school at Emory and Henry College. He was only fifteen years old when he started college. After graduating from Emory and Henry, Stuart decided to enlist in the U.S. Army. They turned him down, because he was not old enough. He then enrolled at West Point, to further hone his military skills. It was at West Point that he met and befriended Robert E. Lee. His first army action came in the Texas territory. The regiment that he served in was tasked with fighting Indians. Before the Civil War broke out, Stuart was promoted to captain. He resigned from the army when Virginia seceded from the Union. Stuart joined Lee in the Confederate Army. He was given control of a cavalry regiment. This regiment served in the Shenandoah Valley, and also at the First Battle of Bull Run. His early success led to him being promoted to brigadier general. Stuart and his men also fought at the Battle of Williamsburg, and at the Second Battle of Bull Run. In these battles he fought alongside Joseph Johnston. After these early battles, Stuart had become as famous as Stonewall Jackson. Stuart later fought in the Maryland Campaign. He and his men fought at the battles of South Mountain and Antietam. Stuart and his men, including John Singleton Mosby, carried out the Chambersburg Raid. They stole horses from the Union army and their supporters. Stuart, unlike his apprentice John Singleton Mosby, preferred to fight "legitimate battles," instead of going on raids. Throughout the rest of his career, Stuart fought at the battles of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Brandy Station, and Gettysburg. The loss of his good friend Stonewall Jackson at Chancellorsville greatly affected Stuart. Stuart however kept on fighting. After the Confederate defeat at Gettysburg, Stuart embarked on his Overland Campaign. The most notable battle was at Yellow Tavern. It was here that Jeb Stuart met his maker. Stuart was shot in the stomach by Union soldier John Huff, while yelling encouraging words to his troops. Stuart passed away in a local hospital just a few hours later. Many tributes have been made to Stuart. Songs have been written in his honor, and the British Army, in World War II named a tank after him. His close friend, and apprentice John Singleton Mosby spent the rest of his life writing pamphlets, and articles to disprove the many myths, and rumors about Jeb Stuart. Mosby wanted to keep Stuart's legacy alive. Jeb Stuart is an American hero.