Confederate General James Ewell Brown Stuart. James Ewell Brown "Jeb" Stuart (1833–1864) - A U.S. Army officer from Virginia and a Confederate States Army general during the Civil War, he was known to his friends as "Jeb", from the initials of his given names. Stuart was a cavalry commander His serious work made him the trusted eyes and ears of Robert E. Lee's army and inspired Southern morale. He was killed in the Battle of Yellow Tavern in Virginia.