The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-01-03
lColonel John s. Mostly in Philadelphia Weekly
TimeS.]
ANNALS OF THE WAR.
Chapters of Unwritten History
GENERAL STUART AT GETTYSBURG.

GENERAL STUART AT GETTYSBURG.
THE CONFEDERATE CAVALRY CH1EFTAIN
DEFENDED BY THE CONFEDERATE PAR
THAN I4EADEE-WHAT WERE LEES OR
DERs-THE FIRST DAYS SUCCESS LARGE
LY DUE TO GEN. sTUART's SERVICES.
In an article which recently appeared in
the Weekly Times, from the pen Of General
Heth, and also IN the work just published by
Colonel Taylor-s'Four Years with General
Lee''-the responsibility for the loss, by
General Lee, OF the Gettysburg campaign,
is indirectly cast upon General J. E. B.
Stuart, the Chief of Cavalry of the Army OF
Northern Virginia. 1t is charged that Stu
art, by passing with his cavalry around the
rear and right Of Hooker into Pennsylvania,
and thus allowing the Federal army to be
interposed between him and General Lee,
had taken away ''the eyes of the army, y
and left the Confederate general in an enc
my's country like blind giant CROPPING in
the dark. propose to show that the charge
is unjust; that Stuart's expedition was I'M
dertaken with the approval of the command
ing general; chat he left behind him force
Of cavalry amply sufficient to observe and
report the movements of the Union army to
General Lee, as well as to check its recon-
noissances and guard the Confederate col
umn against any surprise. And shall do
more. / shall show that Stuart's movement
was highly successful one, considered Ell
ther as an independent raid of detach
ment of cavalry on the communications oil
the Federal army, or in its relations to the
movements of the Confederate army.
ehall also show that the success which at
tended the Confederate arms on the first
days fighting was largely due to the enter
prise OF Stuart. AS to portion of the
events shall narrate, 1 was witness and
an actor. AS to others, my knowledge has
been gained by careful comparison of the
records of both armies. to which I have been
permitted access by the courtesy of the Sec.
rotary OF War. 10 appreciate properly the
reasons that determined Stuart in making
this movement, knowledge of some events
Immediately preceding the time when it was
begun is necessary.
THE DUTY ASSIGNED STUART.
On the 18th Of June, 1868. General Stuart
with a portion Of the cavalry of his com
mand, reached N1iddleburg, Louaon county,
Va. Gen. Lees infantry was then march
ing down the Shenandoah Valley, and the
duty assigned to Stuart was to mask the
movement with his cavalry. In the after
noon of the same day, Pleasonton, who
with his cavalry. had been sent forward by
Hooker to discover the whereabouts of Lee
attacked our outposts at Aldie, village ir
gap of the Bull Run mountain. After 6
series of indecisive engagements extending
through several days, Pleasonton finally, or
the Dist Of June, supported by force of in
| fantry, drove Stuart back into Ashby's gaI
in the Blue Ridge mountain. Having ef
fected the object Of his reconnaissance
which was to ascertain the position of thu
Confederate army, Pleasonton retired TIN
same night to Aide, where the Fifth Corp
was posted, and did not again assume an OF
fensive attitude. On the next day Stear
re-established his lines about Middleburs
| with his headquarters four miles above, a
Rector's crossroads, where he kept up com
municatlon with General Lee, whose head
quarters were about Berlyvillc, in the Shen
andoah Valley. had been operating 70
several months previously in that regio
with force of twenty-five Or thirty men
and on account OF the familiarity l ha
gained with the country had been employee
by Stuart on scouting duty inside the line
of the Union army while he was fightin
Pleasonton in front. II wish it distinct
understood that always went in the flu
uniform of a Confederate major, the rank
then heidi Whenever sent or carried hir
any important information he immediatel
dispatched courier with it to Gen. LIE,
On my return from my last trip inside {
Hooker's lines, OH the 23d Of June, afte
giving Stuart all the information | ha
cleaned about the location of eacll corps {
the Union army, suggested that a spler
did opportunity was now offered him
! strike Hooker a damaging blow by passir
through an unguarded pass of the Ball RI
mountain with a portion of his cavalry, All
cutting right through the middle Of the Fet
eral army, destroying it's transportation ;
ne went, and crossing the Potomac at 81
neca where 1 had crossed some two weel
before with my own comnanO he cou
unite with General Lee in Pennsylvania.
A PRACTICAL PLAN.
The plan was al that time perfectly pra
tlcabie. Pleasonton was in defensive at
tude, and only a small portion of the cava
ry was necessary to be held in his front
observe the movements Of Rockers arm
and report them To the commanding ge
eral. While we were discussing the pE
Generals Hampton and Fiu Lee came in
the room. cannot Of my own lSnowledI
| say that Stuart suhNiftol my nropogitinn