JAMES E. B. STUART

(1833 - 1864) Confederate major general of cavalry who circled McClellan's army twice, was late to the battle of Gettysburg, and in 1864 was mortally wounded at Yellow Tavern. Rare, good content war-date A.L.S. "Stuart" with postcript initialed "J.E.B." on "Head Quarters Cavalry Corps, Army of Northern Virginia" letterhead, Dec. 31, 1863, 2+pp. 4to., [n.p.], to an unnamed colonel. In part: "...Our friends [Frank] Vizatelly [British war correspondent and illustrator who came to the US in 1861 and covered the Civil War from the Confederate viewpoint]

and Capt. Ross left us this morning and will be with you before this reaches you. I was very sorry Lawley

[British newspaperman Francis Lawley?] did not come up. I hope however to go down on 3 or 4 days leave...to Ricmond to attend the nuptuals of my brother in law Gen'l [John R.] Cooke. I hope to see you then. I am very much gratified at your exertions in behalf of the Cavalry, the army, and the country. I would dislike very much to lose you for foreign missions or anything else during this war....Your being superceded so soon in Congress must be regarded as a public calamity...I was glad the House had the manliness and patriotism to put the bill putting in all men who claim exemption by reason of having furnished a substitute. It should be quickly followed up by the enrolling officers - so as to get our army full by spring. ..Why don't the mil. committee hurry up a report about the cav'y measures proposed - I have another scheme - to establish under command of a disabled Col. or other Field Officer - a camp of artisans...with shops, tools and materials...for all of the prisoners of war who renounce their allegiance to the enemy & take the oath to the Confed. States. Also all the deserters from the enemy to us. This class is rapidly growing...The camp should be subject to mil. discipline, the operatives to be paid for their works. Under such a man as Col. R. E. Withers it would flourish and be very profitable to the gov't. The Sec. of War has the authority to do it...These Yankees in two days in the woods would be as comfortable as I am at this moment. I am uneasy about their presence in Richmond...". In his initialed postscript (detached from the letter), Stuart adds: "Poor Sweeny the banjoist is no more. He died of the small pox during my absence. His loss is very generally felt throughout our military circle...Hurry up legislation for the cavalry & the army...". Fine condition. Contrary to Stuart's hopes, the C.S.A. never adopted his plans, though at Belle Isle and to a lesser extent in some other camps, prisoners were employed in iron works, and in constructing battlements and additions to camps.