Today is the 146th anniversary of the Battle of Yellow Tavern – and the mortal wounding of Confederate Major General James Ewell Brown “J.E.B.” Stuart. Stuart, whom historian Eric J. Wittenberg considers the “best cavalry commander ever sired in the United States,” had commanded the Army of Northern Virginia’s mounted arm since the Peninsula Campaign. Commanding general Robert E. Lee would rely on Stuart to provide accurate intelligence on the Federal Army of the Potomac and to screen the movements of his army. His death would be produce mourning in the Confederacy not seen since the death of Lieutenant General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson nearly a year earlier.
With the promotion of Ulysses S. Grant, to lieutenant general commanding all U.S. ground forces, in March 1864, the complexion of fighting in the east would drastically change. Grant would replace his cavalry corps commander, Major General Alfred Pleasanton, with Major General Philip H. Sheridan. Sheridan had earned his “stars” commanding infantry in the western theater and was a hard fighter. Grant’s command structure would have his new cavalry commander reporting to Major General George Gordon Meade, commander of the Army of the Potomac. During the Overland Campaign, Sheridan would struggle with Meade who was accustomed to using his cavalry to guard his supply train and on scouting missions. Wanting to be used in an offensive capacity, against his Confederate adversary, Sheridan would 
appeal to Grant to turn him loose behind Lee’s lines. Grant would acquiesce, much to Meade’s dismay. While Grant was battering Lee at Spotsylvania Court House, Sheridan would ride south with his cavalry corps in search of Stuart. He would find him on the afternoon of May 11 at the abandoned inn at Yellow Tavern – approximately six miles north of Richmond. While Sheridan had over twice as many troopers, Stuart’s three cavalry brigades made a valiant effort to prevent the Federals from breaking through their lines. During the fight the 1st Virginia Cavalry would charge the Federal lines causing Colonel Russell Alger’s 5th Michigan Cavalry to bolt for the rear. Stuart, always leading from the front, would be shot a close range by John A. Huff, a former sharpshooter. Shot through the side, with the bullet tearing through his stomach, Stuart would be removed to Richmond where he would die on May 12. The fight at Yellow Tavern would continue for an hour after Stuart’s wounding with CSA Major General Fitzhugh Lee taking command. Sheridan’s numerical superiority would prove too much and he push south towards Richmond, never piercing the city’s outer defenses.
The Battle of Yellow Tavern permanently changed the complexion of the Confederate Cavalry. No longer would they out soldier their Federal adversary. With J.E.B. Stuart’s death the fighting elan of the Confederate mounted arm was diminished, depriving Robert E. Lee of arguably the best cavalry commander to ever fight in America. Stuart is a true American HERO.
