A Different Point Of View Of Jebb Stuart

I wish to say what I think of Stuart right now… He looks more like a clown and fool than a soldier, nor can you see him without a feeling of contempt for him; yet he is generous and brave - two qualities that redeem a multitude of faults. You seldom see him on foot but on horse-back. He wears a roundabout coat, the sleeves and collar of which are gorgeous with stars and trimmings. His hat has some sort of insignia on it, I do not know what, with two long drooping ostrich plumes in it - high top dragoon boots with brass spurs and very fine, elaborate housing for his horse completes his outfit. Red hair and long red beard make up the man that is thoroughly and firmly persuaded that J.E.B. Stuart is the great man of this war. He keeps old Mike Sweeney at his headquarters to play the banjo for him, and he has a song that he sings most all the time (”Old Joe Hooker Come Out of the Wilderness”).
I do not know whether that this raid around McClellan originated from Stuart or not, but it sounds like him, as I don’t think that Gen. Lee would have thought of such a fool thing.

This was written by a South Carolina cavalryman that served in Gen Wad Hampton’s brigade. He was referring to his commanding officer Jeb Stuart, who after his death became legendary, and was known as one of the great cavalry commanders of all times.

Just goes to show what legends are made of…. and that what you see from here isn’t nessisarily the same view you would have seen from there.

I found this in Hoofbeats and Cold Steal