Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-02-02
The Events Leading Up 10 the Battle OF
Gettysburg.
COL. HsRSHALLS ADDRESS CONCLUDED
What Central Lee Expected General
Stuart 10 Do.
ANOTHER LETTER TO THE LATTER
The Dashing Cavalry Leaders Mis-
construction of the Part He Had
10 Play and His Report-Lee's First
Information.

Below is given the concluding part o
the address of Colonel Charles Marshall
delivered before the Confederate Veteran
Association of Washington. ID. c.. on The
occasion Of the associations celebrator
Of General Lee's-Birthday.
The first instaIment, which was printed
In our Confederate column last Sunday
closed with a letter from General Lee to
General Ewell dated June q, 1853. ex-
planning to the latter the orders that had
been given to Generals T.. III. Anderson
and Stuart on the march to Pennsyl-
vania- The address continues. as follows;
The letter Of General Lee TO General
Stuart of the 22d Of June. 1862 giving
him specific directions as TO his move
ments, which directions are communicated
10 General Ewel in General Lees second
letter to that officer of the same date,
which have quoted was sent by General
Lee through General Longstreet, who was
on the east side OF the Blue Ridge, and
under whose immediate command General
Stuart was
/ have not a copy of the letter from
General Lee TO General Longstreet In
closing General Lees letter to General
Stuart, Out nave "a SOPs VI t44' iteNci
from General Longstreet to General Lee
acknowledging the receipt of the letter Of
the latter to General Stuart, containing
the order which have mentioned. II 10
as follows:
Headquarters. June e. 1853.
$50 +. NJ.
General r. r. Lee, Commanding, etc:
General, Yours OF O'Clock this otter
noon was received. l have forwarded your
with
gestion that he pass to the enemy's rear.
II he thinks he may get through. We
have nothing of the enemy to-day
Most respectfully,
JAMES LONGSTREET,
Northumberland Commanding.
You Will observe that the letter Of
General Lee TO General Stuart. which
have quoted, and which General Stuart
received through General Longstreet con-
tanned an order to the former, In case
ne found that the enemy was moving
northward. and that he could protect his
rear with two brigades Of his force, to
move the other three into Maryland and
take position on General Ewells right,
place himself in communication with him,
guard his flank, and keep him Informed
OF the enemys movements. This oruer
was sent through General Longstreet,
under whose immediate command General
street TO decide whether the cavalry
could be spared to execute the order, and
also to direct how II should best move
10 carry IL out In view OF the state OF
things existing when the order was de-
lvered to General Stuart
WHAT LEE EXPECTED.
The letter OF General Lee to General
Stuart. however. shows that when II was
written General Lee expected that Gene
raj Stuart would pass with ali his cavalry
except two brigades. 10 the west OF the
Blue Ridge, and cross the Potomac on
that side OF the mountains, leaving two
briQades in the gaps to guard his rear
ma long as the enemy threatened TO at
tempt TO penetrate through the gaps into
the Valley.
The letter of General Lee to General
Ewell informing thai officer OF the oroer
General Lee had given TO General stuart,
II General Longstreet DECIDED fhat stuart
could be spared, shows very clearly that
the movement that General Lee assumed
would be made by General Stuart was
20 cross into Maryland. and put himself
on the right of General Ewel.
The letter of General Longstreet
10 General lee. which have
quoted. acknowledging the receipt
OF General Lees letter TO General Stuart,
states that General Longstreet had for
that the latter should pass to the enemys
rear, ''if he thinks he can get through"
What General Longstreet calls a "sug-
gestion" was, In effect. an order. as will
be seen. II was as follows:
wildwood, June %, 1865 +. NJ.
s'Major-General J. Il. b. Stuart. Com
manding Cavalry:
"General,-General Lee has enclosed 10 |
me this letter for you. to be forwarded !
al h rx.a So.
my 'front.' and provided l think you can |
move across the Potomac without disclo- |
ing our plans. He speaks OF your leaving |
via Hopewell Gap. and passing by the |
rear OF The enemy. IL you can get |
through by that route, / think you will |
be less likely TO indicate what our plans |
arc than II you should cross By passing |
20 our rear. l forward the letter of in |
struct!ons with these suggestions. Please |
advise me OF the condition of affairs be- |
fore you leave and order General Hamp- |
ton. whom. l suppose. you will leave here
IN command. TO report 70 me at Mill |
wood. either by letter or In person, as |
may be most agreeable 10 him.
Most respectfully,
JAMES LONGSTREET.
"Lieutenant-General"
~. d. ! think your passage OF the |
Potomac by our rear at the present mo-
ment viii. In measure. disclose our |
plans. You had better not leave US there
fore unless you can take the proposed |
route In rear OF the enemy"
In effect. General Longstrect tells Gene
raj Stuart that he had better not leave
the army unless he could take the pro-
posed route In the rear OF the enemy"
land bis suggestion" substantially
amounted 10 an order to Stuart not TO
leave the army for the purpose OF cross
ing into Maryland as directed by Gene
raj Lees letter. unless he could do so
BY that route.
II VIII be seen that the order OF Gene
raj Longstreet 10 General Stuart. con-
taiEed In the letter OF the former. which
have Just read. appears 10 be controlled
entirely By the idea that General Stuart
was TO cross the Potomac In such a way
a. would best conceal the movements
o. the Confederate army. but II does not
notice the positive instruction contained