The Battle of Chancellorsville

Before writing this paper and reading the book The Killer Angels, there was not much that I knew about Jeb Stuart. All that I knew about him, was that he was a famous cavalry man of the Civil War. I had no idea what the Battle of Chancellorsville was and that Stuart took part in it. Now, after reading about Stuart and the Battle of Chancellorsville, I realize what affect he had on the war and how great of a leader he was. In this paper I will talk about The Battle of Chancellorsville, Jeb Stuarts leadership skills, and Jeb Stuart and the Battle of Chancellorsville.
Major-General James Ewell Brown Stuart, chief of cavalry of the army of Northern Virginia, was born in Patrick county, Va., February 6, 1833. His ancestry in America began with Archibald Stuart, who sought refuge from religious persecution in western Pennsylvania in 1726, and subsequently removed with his family to Augusta county, Va., about 1738. The next generation was distinguished by the services of Maj. Alexander Stuart, who fell dangerously wounded while commanding his regiment at Guilford Court House. John Alexander, son of theAlexander, spent part of his life in the West, serving as Federal judge in Illinois and Missouri, and as speaker of the house in the latter State. Jeb had a very comfortable childhood. As you have probably noticed Jeb Stuart was introduced into the military at a very young age and started to devolope a love for that way of life.
General Stuart pursued his youthful studies at Emory and Henry college, and then entering the National military academy, West Point Academy, he then graduated in 1854, and was commissioned second lieutenant in October of that year. He served in Texas against the Apaches with the mounted riflemen until transferred to the new First cavalry in May, 1855, with which he served at Fort Leavenworth. November 14, 1855, he was married at Fort Riley to the daughter of Col. Philip St. George Cooke, and in the following month he was promoted first lieutenant. He remained on the frontier and in Kansas, and was wounded at the Indian battle of Solomon's River in 1857. At Washington, in 1859, he carried secret instructions to Col. R. E. Lee, and accompanied that officer as aide, against the outbreak at Harper's Perry, where he read the summons to surrender to the leader, theretofore known as "Smith," but whom he recognized at once as "Ossawatomie" Brown of Kansas.