The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-23

STCAfiT'S CAVALRY IN The GEL
TYsBuRG CAMPAIGN. BY John
S. Mosby. Moffat Yard &c Co, 81
East Seventeenth Street, New York
City.
This important contribution to the
history Of the Civil War contains a
sketch OF the battle of chanceilors-
Vile, followed by a description of both
armies preceding the battle. The book
settles several questions OF great inter-
est. heretofore remaining In allegiance,
and presents the whole story OF Get
tysburg in new light. The general
purpose and scope of the work are In
dictated in the authors preface. as fol-
lows:
These pages have been written as
duty ] owe to Il soldier to whom great
injustice has been done. The state
ments in the two reports OF tho COM
manding general in regard to his orders
and the mana cement of the cavalry in
the Gettysburg campaign have been
generally accepted without question:
and the criticisms of his staff officers
and biographers on the conduct of the
chief of cavalry have assumed them
to be true. 1t seems never to have
occurred to these critics to analyze and
compare the two reports with each
other. and with the contemporaneous
correspondence. TO ascertain IL they
agree. or in what respect they differ.
This I have done and have found II
| Impossible TO reconcile their differ
ences 1t was my fortune TO serve un-
der the direct orders of General Rob-
| ert L. Lee and General Stuart. and for
both I have always felt deep affec-
ton. General Lee mentioned my name
when / was a private in general or
der TO the army. and the last COM
munication ] received from him put
| me in command OF all Northern V!r-
ginia. ] have tried to explain how
his name is signed to papers that
| do so much Injustice as we'll to him
| self az to General Stuart. The follow
Ing letter to me from General Beaure-
gard shows that my theory OF the
Gettysburg campaign is far moro fiat
tering to General Leo as n commander
than his own report:
New Orleans, Jan. 6, 'oa.
My Dear Colonel:
/ II read with much pleasure your two
articles In Belford's Magazine on the
Gettysburg camra!gn. which 1 had al
ways condemned as dangerous and III
| advised but rs explained by you.
withdraw my condemnation of 1t. 1t Is
on the contrary to be regretted that
General Lees plan was not carried out
as he intended.
II am yours very truly.
(Signed) &c. T. BEAUREGARD."
| General Stuart's report OF the cam
paign shows what were my relations
with him at that time; and as brought
the information that induced him TO
1 ask permission to cross the Potomac
in rear of tho enemy when he was
| ordered to the Susnuehanna, and was
Ichosen to command the advance OF his
\ column, Il think have a right on my
own account as an actor In the great
i tragedy, as well as on HIS to be heard.
4 The fatal shears cut tho thread OF his
Il life before the end Of the conflict came,
4 and he was denied the opportunity to
Il sneak for himself. The time has como
to apply the test Of reason to the Get
tysburg legend to discover who Is re-
sponsible for bringing upon us the
lDics irae!--dies lila!
The equestrian statue of the great
leader Of the Southern cavalry which
!. was lately unveiled at Richmond Is a
TESTIMONY OF the love and admiration
of the men who followed him in battle
|. and wept over his bier:
80 sinks the day-star in the ocean bed.
, And vet anon repairs his dropping head.
And. tricks ht7 beams and with new
spangled eye
!, Flames In the forehead OF the morning
sky"
JOHN s. NIOsBY.
Washington City. August 81. 1907.