James Ewell Brown Stuart served in the United States cavalry before becoming the principal Confederate cavalry commander in the Army of Northern Virginia. A West Point graduate, he gained frontier experience and assisted Robert E. Lee during the operation against John Brown at Harpers Ferry in 1859. He resigned from federal service after Virginia seceded in 1861 and entered the Confederate army, fighting at First Manassas and rising rapidly in command.

His reputation grew during the Peninsula campaign of 1862. Sent to examine the Union army's right flank, he rode around George B. McClellan's forces, bringing back prisoners, supplies and information. Promoted major general, he directed cavalry reconnaissance, screened Confederate movements and raided communications. At Catlett's Station he captured papers from John Pope's headquarters that helped Lee assess Union intentions during the Northern Virginia campaign.

Stuart also commanded infantry temporarily at Chancellorsville after Thomas Jackson was wounded and A. P. Hill incapacitated. His artillery and attacks contributed to the Confederate victory. The expanding Union cavalry challenged his earlier freedom of movement, notably at Brandy Station in June 1863. During the Gettysburg campaign his extended ride separated him from Lee at a crucial time. Responsibility remains debated, involving his interpretation of orders as well as the choices of other commanders, but Lee lacked information about Union movements.

Returning to the army, Stuart fought east of Gettysburg on 3 July and continued covering Confederate operations through the following campaigns. In May 1864 his cavalry helped secure the approaches to Spotsylvania before confronting Philip Sheridan's raid toward Richmond. He was mortally wounded at Yellow Tavern on 11 May and died the next day. His career shows the importance of mounted intelligence and screening, alongside the risks of raids that deprived an army commander of close contact with his cavalry.