The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-01-30
JOHNS. MOSBY
Stuart in the Gettysburg Campaign---A Defence
of the Cavalry Commander

| rear of tho enemy; or that Ewell had
gone into Pennsylvania a week in adj
vance OF tho main army
The FIRST report is dated July 81,
1863. and was Immediately published
In the newspapers. 1t is the origin Of
oil the criticisms OF Stuart. 1t says:
I'm tho meantime part Of General
! :Ewcll's corps had entered Maryland
and the rest was about to follow. /. :.
General stuart was left to guard the
passes oE.tte mountains and observe
the movements of tho enemy, whom
he was instructed to harass and i'm
pode as much as possible should he
attempt to cross tho Potomac.
lin that event General Stuart was di-
rectcd TO moe into Maryland, cross
ing the Potomac cast or west Of the
Blue Ridge, as in his Judgment should
be best. and take position on the right
OF our column as 1t advanced
The statement that Stuart was
authorized to cross the Potomac east
or west of tho Ridge is true: but 1T IL
not the whole truth for, taken In con-
nection with tho complaint of Rockers
army being intcrposed between stuart
and our army, persons who read the
report naturally inferred 1t meant that
Stuart had authority TO cross at some
OF tho fords east of Harpers Ferry
but In front 81 Rockers army. Tho
report did not say "A word about
Ewcll's corps having been detached
and sent on several days in advance
To the Susquohanna, and that Stuart
was ordered to join Ewcii. 1t speaks
only of Ewell being IN Maryland
On the contrary, any one reading the
report would conclude that the corps
of Longatrcet. Ewcll. and A j.. Hill,
united at Haserstown, in Maryland.
and THAT Stuart was ordered to put
himself 'on the right of orr column
AS IL advanced into Pennsylvania
Now. as EwelI was at Hagerstown
when he received General Lees or
der of the 22d to move to the SuS-
1uehanna and as lie crossed the state
line that day while Stuart was still
IN Faunuicr county. Virginia, 1T could
hardly have been expected that Stuart
would overtalSe Ewell before he
reached the Susauehanna. or that
General Lee would rely on Stuart 10
watch and report Rockers movements
on the Potomac; especially as he had
| kept two brigades of cavalry with
him.
Vet Colonel TayloT says that Cen
eral Leo expected stuart TO perform
that miracle,
General Lees Final Instructions.
Again. General Lees final instruc-
lions to Stuart were written from
EerryvIiie at 5 p. NJ. June 20 AS I
havo said. they wcrc copied by Colo
mel Taylor in General Lees letter.
book. They were substantially a re-
petition of those sent through, Long
street the day before, but more expli-
cit about crossing the Potomac. They
gave stuart tho alternative OF coming
over the Ridge the next day, crossing
the Potomac at Shepherdstown and
then moving on over the South Noun
tain to Frcdericktown: or he could
pass around Hooker's rear. doing
them all the damage you can. and
cross the river east of the mountain.
In either case after crossing the riy-
er. you must move on and feel the
right OF Ewell's troops, collecting
information. provisions. etc..
Clearly when General Leo told Stuart
that IL he crossed at Shcpherdstown he
must move on over to E'redericktown,
he did not mean for Stuart to stop
there, but merely to indicate Che bst
rout to join EVIL. as he had written
Stuart that one OF Ewells columns
would move to the Susquehanna by
Emmittsburs. In this second letter he
said, THE movements of Ewelrs sorps
arc as stated In my former letter"
t22do. On that day he had written
Ewell from Berryville. I. "AIinc OF
to-day authorizing you to move towards
tho Susauehanna. / hope has reached
you. Y" also directed General
Stuart. should the enemy have SO far
retired from his front as to permit of
the departure of q portion of the cav
airy. to march with three brigades
across the Potomac and place himself
on your right and communicate with
you. keep you advised OF the move-
ments OF the enemy and assist in COL
Letting supplies for the army" There
is not word in the Instructions TO
Stuart. although tho report says so.
about his being left to guard the pass
es OF the mountain Or harass and i'm
pede the enemy. Should he attempt
TO cross the Potomac; for the plain
reason that he was expected to cross
In advance of the enemy and move on
into Pennsylvania with Ewell
stunrt's Alternatives.
Nobody can reconcile the statements
about the cavalry in General Lees
two reports with his. orders to both
Ewell and stuart on June %. and his
letter or 8 p. NJ. Juno 20. to Stuart.
which Is. as 7 have said, In Colonel
Taylor's handwriting, No discretion
was given to Stuart to remain with
the army in Virginia or Join Ewell in
Pennsylvania; but discretion was given
him to so by Shepherdstown or cross
In Hooker's rear at Seneca, No matter
which route he won't he would be
equally out Of sight Of the enemy and
out OF communication with General
Lee. Stuart would haYe been where
General Lee put him. In his last
letter to Stuart General Lee speaks
OF the movements of troops in the
valley tho next day.,
If General Lee had Anticipated thnt'
It would break up Stuart's plan Of
passing to the Potomac not around
Eooker's rear through Fairfax. hut
through the middle OF TIooker's arlhy,-
cutting IT IN two and destroying his
no would have DELAYED
the movement In the Valley, as there
was no necessity Cor It that day. A, II.
Hill was at Charlestown, about nine
miles from ShepherdstoWn: he should
nave stood still to give Stuart time
to cross the river
4 Stuart would then have been so far
ahead that Pleasanton's Cavalry c0uld /
never lave 3oyertaken hinl.- - From the J