The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-03-31

N~A N.lN\ W.
GENERAL J. J.. B. STUART
the Potomac without disclosing the Con
federate plans. II appears that General
Leo preferred 10 submit the idea of this
increment TO General L0DgsfFeet's judg-
mcnt before disclosing II 10 stuart. Let
US also notice that there Is DO ambiguity
as TO the position OF the cavalry In the
contemplated movement, as might have
existed had General Lee written, East
of the mountains but the expression Is
clear and dlsiincr-"in rear OF the enemy.
These facts lie on the very surface Of
the written record.
MOSBY'S INFORMATION.
General Lees letter Of June 22d to stu
art. through Longstroet. reached Stuart
presumably about eleven o'clock on the
night Of that date. Early the next day,
June 23d. Mosby came INTO our lines vim
Information from the enemy.
I'm the Philadelphia Weekly Times OF
December y. 1877. Moshy has told MS
what was the information he commune
Gated to Stuart. ! quote as follows.
"On my return from my last trip in
side Of lockers lines. on the I'D OF June
after giving Stuart all the information !
had CLEANED about the location Of each
III
Il spledid opportunity was now offered
him to strike Hooker a damaging blow
by passing through an ungarded pass OF
the Bull Run mountain, with a portion OF
his cavalry. and cutting right through the
middle Of the Federal army, destroying
his transportation a. he went. ana cross
ing the Potomac a Seneca (where ] had
crossed some two weeks ago Win my own
commando. he could unite with General
Lee i'm Pennsylvania.
The plan was at that time perfectly
practicable Pieasoht0n was in Q defen-
sive attitude. and only a small portion
Of the cavalry was necessary 10 he held
in his front 10 observe the movements
of Rockers army. and report them to the
COMMANDING general. While we were AIS
cussing the plan. Generals Hampton ana
Fitz Lee came into the room. ! cannot
Of my own knowledge say that stuart
submitted my proposition 10 General Lee
before ordering the movement DO know
that as soon as our conference ended ne
started a courier to him. Col. BlackfOrd,
OF General Stuart's STAFF. recently inform
cd me that Stuart rode over 70 General
Lees headquarters that day 10 consult
With him about IT. The plan agreed upon
was 10 leave two cavalry hriaades lJones
and KObeTtsOns), under the command OF
Brieadier-Gcnerai Beverly Robertson, I'D
front of Hooker, about Middlebure, 10
observe lis movements and keep mp com
munication with the commanding general.
while stuart. with three brigades. sbouh
pass through the Union army INTO fein-
sylvania As Hancock's Corps was hold
ing UopewoI and Thorouchfare Gaps. In
the Bun Run mountain. the route select
ed Tor stuart 10 80 was through Glass
cocks Gap "a few miles south OF Thof-
Oughfarel. via Haymarket, through Lou
doun and Fairfax. TO Seneca Ford, on me
Potomac. The part assigned 10 me was
TO cross Bull Run az night. with my smaii
force. by a bfidlepath. and, uniting Win
Stuart near Gum Spring, in Loudoun'
take command Of his advance guard.
Rockers headquarters were then an Fair
fax station. with bis army spread out hAc
a fan over Loudoun. Prince william, ana
Fairfax counties. his left at Thorough
fare Gap. his right al Leeshure. ana DIS
centre H-ifih Corps al Aldie. with Pleas
onions Cavalry in front All the roads
were fla, . with his immense supply
trains"
ANOTH. Z LETTER FROM LEE.
Here was a suggestion which might
well fire Stuart's imagination. Think OF
Hampton Fitz Lee. and Chambllss reycl-
ling i'm the midst Of those wagon trains.
Think Of the confusion into which the Fed
eral plans might have been thrown by
the destruction OF the supply trains OF
even one corps. But stuart had 10 power
10 adopt this plan It's successful eXecu-
ton depended wholly upon the suppo,l-
ton that the Federal army would remain
inncti,.e for one or TWO days. and in such
"A case Stuarfs orders required him 10 re-
main where ne was. for General Let
O, er received the night before. author
lied him TO move, on condition that ne
found the enemy TO be moving nortn-
ward. Should this condition occur. Long
streets orders were binding, mar ne
should pass into Maryland. by the rear
of the enemy" III you think you can s,'
through by that route.
We are now brought TO consider General
Lees letter 10 General Stuart Of June I'D.
II Is as follows:
"Headquar,ars. Army Of Northern
Virginia, June q. 1865. +. VI.
Mai Gen. J. Il. stuart Commanding
Cavalry:
"GenefaI.-Your notes Of aad ,D@D
4 NJ to-day have Just been received. rs
regards the purchase OF tobacco Tor your
men. surprising that Confederate money
Will not be taken. / am Wiling Tor f0uf
commissaries or quartermasters 10 lGf-
chase this tobacco. and let the men get
II from them. but l can nave hoihihs
seized by the aen.
"If General Rockers army remains In
active. you can leave two brigades 70
watch him, and withdraw with the three
others. but should he not appear 10 be
moving northWard / think you had bet
ter withdraw this side OF the mountain
tomorrow night. cross at Shepherdsiown
next day. and move over 10 Frederick
town.
you viii. however, be able TO judge
whether you can pass around their army
without hlndrance. doing them all the
damage you can. and cross the river east
of the mountains. In either case after
crossing the river. you must move on. and
feel the right OF Ewell's troops. collecting
Information. provisions, etc.
~ am. very respectfully and truly yours.
"R. T.. LEE, General"
General Lee acknowledges the receipt
OF two notes from stuart on the I'D Of
June. We presume that the FIRST, dated
o A. NJ. asking for instructions concern