The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-04-10
COLONEL TALCOTT
ANSWERS MO Shy
General Lees Aide Explains
Commanders Part in Get
tysburg Campaign.

SDa' DdISil.
BY col. II. NJ. n. TALCoTT,
Int Aide-dc-Cnnp to Gen. II. r.. lie,
and Colonel of Engineers, G. $. A.
THE following contribution to the
literature of the Gettysburg contro-
versy deserves the close attention OF
all Confederates Following the ap.
pcaranco of Colonel John 8. Mosby's
"Btuart's Cavalry In the Gettysburg
Campaign Colonel Talcott reviewed
the work in this column. He was fol-
lowed by Rev. Randolph Mc1tim. ID. D..
OF General Edward Johnson's staff. In
valuable paper which was also road
before X. L. Lee Camp. In reply to
these articles, Colonel Mosby made a
detailed answer through this column.
and Captain Stockton Heth explained
tho part played in the campaign by
General Henry Heth. whose name had
boen mentioned In tho controversy. Az
collateral evidence. an article written
in 1877 by General Henry Ifeth and
another written in 1897 by Major
StriblinG were reprinted !n this col
uinn. Colonel Taicotts present mas
tcrly article Is a review Of all the owl
dcncc thus far printed regarding the
conduc, of General ]. L. b. Stuart In
tho Pennsylvania campaign.-Ed.l
Tho avowed purpose of Colonel Mos
by's book was TO prove that General
Stuart was not in any way responsible
for the failure OF the Gettysburg cam
paign, and to do this it was necessary
that he should prove that tho move
monts OF General Stuart were III &C
cordance with his instructions,
General Leo states in his ON cial re-
ports OF the Gettysburg campaign that
nc was embarrassed by the unexpected
absence of tho cavalry under General
Stuart, from which It Is inferred that
stuart did not act IN accordance with
General Lees instructions to him, and
10 meet this difficulty Colonel Mosby
denies the authenticity or tho reports.
and holds them UP TO ridicule as the
productions of staff officer TO which
General Leo affixed his signature with
out .eadins or having them read to.
him..
After all OF his contention that Cen
cral Stuart "oheycd orders" Colonel
Moshy, in assailing the accuracy Of
General Lees reports, pract!caly gives
UP his case when no says IN his publ
cation in your issue OF January 80:
There is not word In tho instruc-
tions TO Stunrt, although the report
says 40, about his being left TO Eunrd
the passes of the mountain, or hnrnss
md impede the enemy Should he at
tempt 10 cross the Potomac, for the
plain reason thnt he was expected to-
cross In advance of the enemy and
move on into Pennsylvania with
Ewcll.r'
Colonel Mosby here admits that STU
art was to cross the Potomac with
three br!sadcs, in advance OF the
nperrv roopA ipfN Ia
with Ewelt" and not. as he has here
tofore insisted, ito move into Penn
sylvan!a and join Ewell on the Sus-
quehanna."
stnart's brigade Orders.
What Stuart understood to be his
instructtons with reference TO the two
tt!ga des loft in Virginia eau best be
seen by referring to the orders he /
transmitted to the commanding officer |
of these br!gades. which were as fol-
lows: "Your object will be to watch !
the enemy; deceive him as to our de-
signs. and harass his rear II you find
him retiring. Be always on the alert:
let nothing escape your observations.
and miss no opportunity to damage
the enemy. After the enemy has
moved beyond your reach. leave pick !
cts in tho mountain gaps, withdraw /
to the west eide &C the Shenandoah. !
cross the Potomac and follow the
army keeping on Its right and rear
stuart himself says that General Lee
directed him after crossing to pro-
coed with an dispatch to Join the right
of the army In Pennsylvania
These two statements from General I
stuart himself show clearly what he
was instructed to do. but did not do
with the cavalry. and fully justify
General Lee in saying that at was
expected that as soon. as the Fed eral /,
army should Cross the Potomac Gem
eral Stuart would give notice OF its
movements. and nothing having been
heard from him since our entrance into
Maryland, 1t was inferred that the \
enemy had not left virginia" Cen
eral Lee had right to expect that
he would be advised as soon as the
enemy crossed the Potomac, and that 1
all of Stuart's brigades would then he
In the positions assigned them by his
orders. Instead OF that, Stuart and
three of his best brigades were lost
for whole week, and for all General
Leo knew were captured or destroyd:
and the two brigades which
should have been on his fright and
rear" In Pennsylvania assured him hyl
their absence that the enemy was still
in their front. until July 1, by which
timn FILL was lighting the head Of
Meade's army at Gettysburg.
Conduct of General Robertson.
Colonel Mosby says that General
Stuart left two brigades with Lee and
LongstPeet. and that therefore Lee had
nil tho cavalry he needed In the alb
sence Of Stuart; but such was not the
case Stuart instructed them to take ,
position on the right and rear OF the
army when tho enemy left Virginia,
which they failed to do; and In the
light of events It cannot be doubted
that Stuart erred In leaving General
Robertson in command In Virginia, not
General Longstreets sug-
gestion that General Hampton should
BIO left in command. and report to him,
(See Longstreet's letter to Stuart on {
June 22D General Heth says "the eyes ]
of the giant were out" but II was
worse than that as regards the cavalry !
left In Virginia, for that visual organ
Of General Lees army made him soc
the enemy In Virginia, when they wcro {
not there. {
This woula rave boon less serious II z
Stuart had crossed the Potomac 'in
advance OF tho enemy as Colonel Mos
Aass IA. saxs WAS expected Of him. apd -takenl