orig. James Ewell Brown Stuart
born Feb. 6, 1833, Patrick county, Va., U.S.
died May 12, 1864, Yellow Tavern, near Richmond, Va.
U.S. army officer.
He graduated from West Point and was an aide to Col. John Brown 's raid on Harpers Ferry. In 1861 he joined the Confederate army, becoming brigadier general of a cavalry brigade. On scouting raids he obtained information on Union troop movements that contributed to Confederate victories at the Seven Days' Battle and the Second Battle of Bull Run ; Lee called Stuart the "eyes of the army." As major general, he helped win the battles of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. Before the Battle of {{link=Gettysburg, Battle of">Gettysburg , he was instructed by Lee to gather information on Union troop movements; he was delayed on a raid and arrived after the battle had begun. Though criticized for his action, he continued to provide intelligence to Confederate forces. He was mortally wounded in the Confederate defeat at Spotsylvania Courthouse.