Fabled Confederate general (1833-1864) best known for his consummate skill in reconnaissance and as a cavalry officer. After leading successful offensive actions during the Northern Virginia Campaign—as well as a 'late,' disastrous showing at Gettysburg, which led to a personal rebuke by Lee—Stuart was killed during the Overland Campaign at the age of 31. ALS signed "J.E.B. Stuart, 1st Lt., 1st Cav, Comd'g Detachment," three pages on two lightly-lined 8 x 10 sheets, July 12, 1860. Handwritten letter to Lt. J. A. Thompson, Adjutant of Major John Sedgwick's column. In full: "I have the honor to make the following report of a scout made by a detachment of 20 U.S. Cavalry under my command in compliance with instructions from the major commanding on the morning of 11th inst. the detachment formed from the column at a moment's notice, marched directly north from Bent's Fort in the direction in which the Kiowa War-Chief 'Sotauke' was reported to have just fled with his family - in all two lodges. I soon found the trail and commenced a rapid pursuit. In a short time I came in sight of them several miles ahead just as they having abandoned their weighty articles of baggage, were prepared for more rapid flight. I saw that my pursuit to be successful must be rapid, and followed at full gallop. I joined very perceptibly on them, and after 2½ hours from Bent's Fort during which I had traversed 26 miles, I was just about overhauling the body of Indians when I recognized Capt Steele's Detachment who were returning to Bent's Fort from a two-day's scout, and was approaching me, directly in front of the Indians. Perceiving that my capture of the main body would be thus anticipated by the unexpected presence of Capt Steele's detachment, I turned to the right in order to catch some scattered warriors who having separated from the main body were likely to escape in that direction. I had not proceeded far however till I saw that part of Capt Steele's command having mistaken my Detachments for Kiowas were coming after us at a charge, to avoid this I had already had several calls sounded but they were not heard. They recognized us on nearer approach, and coming up the two columns saluted each other with a shout and joined in pursuit of the common foe.
My horses though much jaded by the hard run did well and the last warrior killed was mortally wounded by Sergt Occleston of my detachment who, after both he & the Indian had left their horses exhausted, kept up the chase on foot. Two warriors were killed and one Squaw taken prisoner in this pursuit two squaws mounted on the fleetest ponies escaped. Pvts Jon: Smith (1st) Co 'G' and Ferdinand Schwartz Co. F. 1st. cavy. of my Detachment received severe but not dangerous wounds.
Finding further pursuit fruitless and that Lt Bayard had received a severe arrow wound in the face, I rallied the men in advance and conducted him safely back a distance of six miles to Capt Steele's camp, as he belonged to that Detachment, though not of my command I deem it proper to add my testimony to the gallant bearing and personal daring he displayed. Segt Wm Occleston Co 'G.' and Corp'l Geo S. Newman Co K. 1st. Cavalry deserve special commendation for their gallantry and good conduct throughout. Every man in my detachment proved himself every inch a soldier.
The sixteen women & children, and 20 or 30 ponies captured by Capt Steele's detachment would have been inevitably captured by my party. I have since learned that Sotauke was not with this band at the time but that the two warriors killed were his brother & son, and the Squaws were his. As I joined Capt Steele at Black Water the remainder of my scout is embraced in his report. I reached this camp at 8 P.M. without the loss of a man or a horse." In fine condition, with a couple small areas of reinforcement to splitting along horizontal folds, and a diagonal crease and scattered faint stains to the lower right area of the first page.
Stuart's report reads like an Old West thriller rather than an official military document, but the people and bloody events detailed are all too real. The officer considers it his "honor" to carefully relate to his superiors events pertaining to the pursuit of Sotauke the day before. He tells of learning of the chief's sighting, and how he and about twenty of his troops "soon found the trail and commenced a rapid pursuit. In a short time I came in sight of them…I saw that my pursuit to be successful must be rapid, and followed at full gallop," he related. In dramatic fashion, he tells of the 'plot complication' as another group of cavalrymen, "having mistaken my Detachments for Kiowas were coming after us at a charge, to avoid this I had already had several calls sounded but they were not heard. They recognized us on nearer approach, and coming up the two columns saluted each other with a shout and joined in pursuit of the common foe."
Alas, that common foe eluded capture, although some Native Americans, including sixteen women and children, were captured, and a US serviceman "had received a severe arrow wound in the face." Interestingly, upon learning that Abraham Lincoln had been elected president a few months early, Stuart wrote to a friend that he believed Lincoln would eventually yield to the demands of southern states and avert a crisis. When war did come, Stuart became one of the Confederacy's most notable leaders.
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