Photo Credit: Reflecting a newfound confidence, Union cavalry mount a pell-mell charge against Confederate troops and guns in this drawing by war artist Edwin Forbes.
The Death of a Legend: The Battle of Yellow Tavern
Confederate Maj. Gen. James Ewell Brown Stuart, commander of the cavalry corps of the Army of Northern Virginia, vowed that he “had rather die than be whipped.” His vow would be answered at Yellow Tavern.
By Arnold Blumberg
“We have been badly used up,” a sergeant in the 5th New York Volunteer Cavalry Regiment complained in a letter to his wife on May 8, 1864, four days before J.E.B. Stuart's death. Another Union trooper, a member of the 6th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry Regiment, echoed those sentiments about the just concluded operations in the Virginia Wilderness. The Federal cavalry, said the Buckeye, had been “used in such a bumbling manner” that it brought into question the leadership ability of Maj. Gen. Philip H. Sheridan, the Army of the Potomac’s new cavalry commander, and at least partially explained why Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant had failed to decisively defeat Confederate General Robert E. Lee in their first encounter.
The men’s complaints were valid. Sheridan’s debut as head of the mounted units during the fighting was far from what his superiors had expected of him. Maj. Gen. Henry W. Halleck, Union Army chief of staff, in March 1864 had suggested to Grant that Sheridan lead the Federal cavalry corps in the eastern theater. “The very man I want,” Grant replied. Sheridan had served under Grant and Halleck in the western theater of the war, and they had been duly impressed with Little Phil’s performance. But the early achievements of Sheridan in his new role were less than reassuring when measured against what an experienced cavalry commander might have accomplished under the same circumstances.
Even before Sheridan’s shortcomings were revealed on
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LOVED THE STORY my great great grand uncle was Lt or Major General Matt Ransom adjudent to Robert E Lee seen in the surrender painting about a year later… my great great grandfather was Maj General Robert Ransom CSA and West Point grad under Robert E Lee western war for Texas whose wife was a distant cousin to my mothers side of the family and the family owner of Arlington .. she was the distant relative like third cousin to George Washingon. all of my relatives have died and any records are gone with them but the state of NC has their work history at NC State and U of NC . Matt was the youngest AG in NC history at 21. ended up at NC United States Senator. Died 1904 after some deal for a job arranged whilc a Senator was called into question. .
Well written and finely detailed. Appreciated the relapse into a slice of time. Thank you.
LOVED THE STORY my great great grand uncle was Lt or Major General Matt Ransom adjudent to Robert E Lee seen in the surrender painting about a year later… my great great grandfather was Maj General Robert Ransom CSA and West Point grad under Robert E Lee western war for Texas whose wife was a distant cousin to my mothers side of the family and the family owner of Arlington .. she was the distant relative like third cousin to George Washingon. all of my relatives have died and any records are gone with them but the state of NC has their work history at NC State and U of NC . Matt was the youngest AG in NC history at 21. ended up at NC United States Senator. Died 1904 after some deal for a job arranged whilc a Senator was called into question. .