These movements were, however, promptly met.  Lee retired his two wings, but struck suddenly with his centre at the force attempting to cross there; and then active operations on both sides ceased.  In spite of having passed the river with the bulk of his army, and formed line of battle, General Grant resolved not to attack.  His explanation of this is that Lee’s position was found “stronger than either of his previous ones.”

Such was the result of the able disposition of the Southern force at this important point.  General Grant found his whole programme reversed, and, on the night of the 26th, silently withdrew and hastened down the north bank of the Pamunkey toward Hanovertown preceded by the cavalry of General Sheridan.

That officer had been detached from the army as it approached Spottsylvania Court-House, to make a rapid march toward Richmond, and destroy the Confederate communications.  In this he partially succeeded, but, attempting to ride into Richmond, was repulsed with considerable loss.  The only important result, indeed, of the expedition, was the death of General Stuart.  This distinguished commander of General Lee’s cavalry had been directed to pursue General Sheridan; had done so, with his customary promptness, and intercepted his column near Richmond, at a spot known as the Yellow Tavern; and here, in a stubborn engagement, in which Stuart strove to supply his want of troops by the fury of his attack, the great chief of cavalry was mortally wounded, and expired soon afterward.  His fall was a grievous blow to General Lee’s heart, as well as to the Southern cause.  Endowed by nature with a courage which shrunk from nothing; active, energetic, of immense physical stamina, which enabled him to endure any amount of fatigue; devoted, heart and soul, to the cause in which he fought, and looking up to the commander of the army with childlike love and admiration, Stuart could be ill spared at this critical moment, and General Lee was plunged into the deepest melancholy at the intelligence of his death.  When it reached him he retired from those around him, and remained for some time communing with his own heart and memory.  When one of his staff entered, and spoke of Stuart, General Lee said, in a low voice, “I can scarcely think of him without weeping.”

The command of the cavalry devolved upon General Hampton, and it was fought throughout the succeeding campaign with the nerve and efficiency of a great soldier; but Stuart had, as it were, formed and moulded it with his own hands; he was the first great commander of horse in the war; and it was hard for his successors, however great their genius, to compete with his memory.  His name will thus remain that of the greatest and most prominent cavalry-officer of the war.