Brief History:

General James Ewell Brown (JEB) Stuart    1833 — 1864       

James Ewell Brown Stuart was born February 6, 1833.  He was the seventh child and youngest surviving son of Elizabeth Pannill and Archibald Stuart.  James was raised at his mother’s knee and on the rolling hills of southwest Virginia around his home at Laurel Hill.  The foundation for his education was the Bible, family, and his deep rooted love for his Virginia.  In 1848, he entered Emory and Henry College where he studied for two years, until Representative W.D. Averitt appointed him to the United States Military Academy at West Point.  West Point was the place where he began a lifelong association with another Virginian and man with devout Christian beliefs, his future Commanding General, Robert E. Lee.      After graduating seventh in the Academy's Class of 1854, James was initially assigned to Texas.  His served as a Cavalry Officer with the U.S. Army, was where he continued to develop his knowledge of cavalry tactics.  He was veteran of the frontier conflicts with Native Americans and the antebellum violence of Bleeding Kansas.      Kansas was the place where he met the love of his life.  In 1855, shortly     after his father’s death, he wed, Flora Cooke, the daughter of prominent cavalryman LTC Philip St. George Cooke.  General Cooke would later serve with the Union Army.       In 1859 JEB traveled back East on business. While there he accompanied the force (led by Robert E. Lee) which crushed the John Brown Raid at Harper's Ferry.  It was Stuart that recognized Brown from his dealing with him in Kansas and alerted the soldiers under Lee’s command to attack the Armory and capture John Brown.    General Stuart, was square-built and of average height, with a natural athlete's vigorous aggressiveness. He had china-blue eyes, and rough-hewn features which prompted his West Point classmates to jokingly call him "Beauty." Later in life, he attempted to hide his receding chin with a bushy cinnamon-colored beard. He always dressed flamboyantly. He wore a scarlet-lined cape that covered his tunic. His trademark look included a soft hat with the brim pinned up on one side by a gold star supporting a foot-long ostrich plume, elbow-length gauntlets and thigh-high boots, flowers and ribbons in his lapels, yellow sash, and golden spurs. As to Stuart's personal habits, it was observed "he neither drinks nor smokes and is the plainest, most straightforward, best humored man in the world."    Stuart was known for his mastery of reconnaissance and the use of cavalry in support of offensive operations. His serious work made him the trusted eyes and ears of General Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia.  On more than one occasion he and his soldiers “Road Around” the Federal Troops and caused them much embarrassment.       At Chancellorsville he took over command of his friend “Stonewall” Jackson's Corps after Jackson had been mortally wounded by his own men.  Never before or since had a Cavalry Officer taken command of such a large Infantry Force under such traumatic conditions.      
The Gettysburg Campaign was the most controversial of Stuart's career.  No one will deny that the delay in his arrival at Gettysburg was a serious problem that the Confederate Forces were unable to overcome.     
The Battle of Yellow Tavern occurred May 11, 1864 just north of Richmond.  JEB rode to lead the charge by the 1st Virginia Cavalry (his old regiment) and pushed the advancing Union troopers back from the hilltop.  Stuart, mounted on horseback, positioned himself squarely in the middle of the battle, shouted encouragement, and fought with his men.  A bullet tore into Stuart’s right side just under the ribcage.  His men lifted him from his horse and moved him to safety.    
Later in the evening he was moved to Richmond and the physicians declared that he was mortally wounded.  On May 12, 1864 at 7:38 PM, he whispered his last words, "I am resigned; God's will be done."  He was 31 years old.

The Background behind the Persona:

General JEB Stuart - Wayne Jones

Programs

    General and Mrs. Stuart have developed several programs that will allow them to share a period of history and the heritage that this particular time represents to current and future generations.  They are available to schools, living history presentations, and other similar community organizations as they continues to teach and preserve their true Southern Heritage to a new generation.  They also have their own web page:  www.thegeneralandhislady.com.