GDG- Re: Gettysburg Digest, Vol 27, Issue 10

[Teej Smith]

> Esteemed GDG Member Tom Ryan Contributes:

<Snip>

> From what I can tell from the readings, Stuart was close to all of his
> staff whom he hand picked for the most part.  He wanted certain types of
> people around him, and he apparently invested considerable emotional 
> capital
> in their well being.  Over the years, many of his staff and aides were
> killed performing hazardous duty -- as was Stuart.  It also appears that
> Stuart was fatalistic, therefore lived his life and performed his duty 
> like
> there was no tomorrow.

    Well, he did once write Flora that he wished he could get rid of John 
Esten [Cooke] because "he is the greatest bore I ever met, and is 
disagreeable to everyone.."  Considering that Esten Cooke was Flora's 
cousin, I'm certain that played well at home. :-)

    Tom Rosser once wrote of Stuart, "In this fight at Yellow Tavern our 
great cavalry general J.E.B.Stuart was killed, an event too important to be 
passed over without a pause for reflection. As the parent of the cavalry of 
the Army of Northern Virginia, Stuart's name is inseparably connected with 
all its achievements. Stuart was a devout Christian, yet an inordinate 
vanity with all its giddiness and frivolity possessed his very soul and 
detracted greatly form his otherwise strong character. His supreme desire 
was his country's good, and there was never a patriot more devoted to his 
country's cause than he. Happy, cheerful, rollicking even to boyishness, he 
commanded the respect of his subordinates and enjoyed the confidence and 
esteem of his superior officers. Cool, collected and fearless on the 
battle-field or on the raid, his decisions were quickly reached and promptly 
executed. Untiring in zeal, vigilant and enterprising, he was eminently 
fitted to command a corps of cavalry, even the superb corps he did command, 
and in such an army. Peace to his ashes! With all his faults we loved him, 
and may his glorious achievements in the service of his country live in the 
hearts of his countrymen, their descendants, and sympathizers to the end of 
time."

    Unfortunately, Rosser was a whole lot less charitable to Stuart in this 
address when talking about Gettysburg.

Regards,
Teej