Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-02-02

I
1t to the Potomac river. below where the
enemy's army was being concentrated.
/ OF course this might readily prove TO
be inconsistent with the chief aim OF the
movement ordered by General Lee, which
was that General Stuart should pace
himself on the right OF General EweD
after crossing the river, and there was
evident danger that If General Stuart
acted under the order Of General Long
street. and the enemy should cross the
Potomac before General Stuart, the latter
would be separated from General Ewell,
who was moving west of the Blue Ridge.
LEE TO STUART AGAIN.
But there is another letter from General
Lee TO General Stuart, dated on the 23d
| of June, at 5 +. NJ, which IS as follows:
Headquarters Army Northern Virginia
"June %. 1866 +. NJ.
"Major-General J. l.. r. Stuart. Command
ing Cavalry:
| "General,-Your notes OF Q and 1870 A.
M. to-day have Just been received. As
regards the purchase Of tobacco for your
men, supposing that Confederate money
| will not be taken, l am willing for your
commissarfes or quartermasters to pur-
chase this tobacco. and let the men get
| II from them. but | can have nothing
seized by the men. If General Hooker's
army yyd Nai ANafN wv
| Drigades to watch him, and Withdraw
the three others: but should he not appear
to be moving northward ] think you had
better withdraw this side Of the noun
tains tomorrow night, cross at Shep-
her6stown next day, and move over to
Fredericktown. You will. however be
/, able to judge whether you can
pass around their army without
hindrance, 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 Eweirs troops, col
lecting information, provisions. etc. Give
Instructions 10 the commanders Of the
brigades left behind to watch the flank
and rear OF the army, and in the event
Of the enemy leaving their front. retire
from the mountains west OF the Shenan-
doah, leaving sufficient picliets to guard
the passes and bring in everything clean
along the valley, closing upon the rear
of the army. AS regards the movements
OF the two brigades of .the enemy moving
towards Warrenton, the commander of the
brigades TO be left in the mountains must
do what he can 10 counteract them. but
think the sooner you cross into Mary
land after tomorrow the better. The
movements of Ewells Corps are, as stated
In my former letter. HIS First Division
will reach the Potomac to-day. and Long
street Will follow tomorrow. Be watch
full and circumspect in your movements,
am, very respectfully and truly yours,
'R. T.. LEE General"
This letter was written and received
after General Longstreets letter TO Gene
raj Stuart of the 22d of June, inclosing
that Of General Lee, with the suggestion
or order of General Longstreet as to the
movement of General Stuart, Of which /
have spoken, and Is General Lees last
direction to General Stuart before the
army left Virginia. 1t was written and
received before General Stuart started
on his march around the rear of The
enemy"
1t covers the case of the Federal COM
mander remaining inactive, and also or
his not moving northward. In the FORM
er event Stuart was to leave two brigades
to watch him. and with the other three
to withdraw, and in the latter event
Stuart's whole command was 10 be with
drawn tomorrow night dhe 2ith), this |
side of the mountain" cross the Potomac
at Shepherdstown, and move towards |
Fredericktown the next day.
1t also leaves Stuart to decide wheth- |
er ne can move around the Federal |
army Gin either of the events mentioned) |
without hindrance, doing him all the dam
age he can. and cross east of the |
mountains. In either case, after cross |
ing the river, Stuart is directed TO move
on and feel the right Of EwelPs |
Corps, collecting information, etc.
You will see that whether Stuart \
should cross the Potomac at Shepherds
town. as General Lee directed. or In
the exercise of the discretion given him
to pass around the rear of the enemy |
and cross the Potomac east of the noun
tains, he was ordered Internationally
latter crossing the river" to move on and
"feel the right Of EwelPs troops, col
lecting information. etc"
This explicit order precluded any
by Stuart that would pre-
vent him from feeling the right OF
Ewelrs troops" after crossing the Po-
tomac. and II was the last order Gene-
raj Stuart received before leaving Vir-
ginia.
In will also be observed that General
Stuart was not permitted to make this
around the enemy's rear. UN-
LESS HE COULD PASS AROUND THE
ARMY WITHOUT HIN
and there was the same condi-
ton annexed 10 the order OF General
Stuart, as ] have shown. In any case.
General Stuart. after crossing the Poto-
mac. was to put himself on the right flank
of General Ewell. and that any movement
on the part OF the former which tended
TO preyent this was entirely Inconsistent
with General Lees reiterated Instructions
So. that under this restriction. General
Stuart was practically instructed not to
cross the Potomac east OF the Federal
army, ans thus interpose that army be-
tween himself and the right Of General
Ewell
There were places where the Potomac
could be crossed between the enemy's
army, at or near Edwards's Ferry. and
the Blue Ridge. east OF the latter. and
General Stuart had discretion to use the
lords east of the Blue Ridge. but he had
40 discretion 10 use any ford that would
place the enemy's army between him and
The troops Of General Ewell.
A MIsCONsTRUCToN.
The report Of General Stuart of his ope-
rations In this campaign states that he
had submitted to General Lee plan OF
eavlng brigade or two, to use his own
language. lin my present 'front.' and
passing through Hopewell or some other
gap In Bull-Run mountains. attain the
enemy's rear pass between his main
body and Washington. and cross into
Maryland. Joining our army north Of the
Potomac.
"The commanding general wrote me,
this move. II ! deemed II
practicable. and also what instructions
hould be given the officer In command
4 the two brigades left In front OF the
lrmy. He also notified me that one
ollmn would move via Gettysburg. the
Their by Carlisle towards the Susque-