“I am much satisfied with the transport of mules lately sent, which I have taken possession of, and request that you send me a fresh supply.
J. E. B. Stuart.”
This message produced great consternation in Washington, where the people were as afraid of Stuart and his cavalry as they were of the whole Confederate army.
After thus revealing his whereabouts, Stuart marched quickly back to Culpeper Courthouse, which he reached on December 30, having lost on the raid, one killed, thirteen wounded, and fourteen missing. About twenty wagons and some stores had been captured. This was the fourth raid that Stuart had made around or to the rear of the Federals, without capture or serious loss.
From a war-time photograph
FEDERALS REPAIRING RAILROAD WHICH CONFEDERATES HAD DESTROYED
The Rev. Dr. Dabney in his Life of Stonewall Jackson tells us that during this winter, General Jackson had for his headquarters a hunting lodge near Moss Neck. Here he was often visited by General Stuart on his rounds of official duty. These visits were always welcome to Jackson who admired and loved the young cavalry leader and they were the signal of fun for the young men of the staff. While Stuart poured out “quips and cranks,” often at Jackson’s expense, the latter sat by, silent and blushing, but enjoying the jests with a quiet laugh.
The walls of the lodge were ornamented with pictures which gave Stuart many a topic for jokes. Pretending to believe that they had been selected by Jackson himself, he would point now to the portrait of a famous race horse and now to the print of a dog noted for his hunting feats, and remark that they showed queer taste for a devout Presbyterian. Once Jackson, with a smile, replied that perhaps in his youth he had been fonder of race horses than his friends suspected.
One day, in the midst of a gay conversation, dinner was announced and the two generals with their aides passed to the mess table. The center of the table was graced by a print of butter upon which was impressed the image of a rooster. It had been presented to Jackson by a lady of the neighborhood and had been placed upon the table in honor of Stuart.
As the eyes of the gay young general fell upon it, they sparkled with glee and he exclaimed, “See there, gentlemen! We have the crowning evidence of our host’s sporting tastes. He even puts his favorite gamecock upon his butter!”
The dinner, of course, began with merry laughter in which General Jackson joined with much zest.