The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-02-13
BY REV. RANDOLPH III. orcKIM,
Lufe First Lieutenant aud Aidc-de-
Camp, Third brigade, Edward
Juhnson's Division, Army of Ncrth-
orp IICInin.

Colonel John S. Mosoy, the brave and
able commander of a famous partisan
corps in Virginia during the Civil War.
has published q book N exposition Of
the part borne by General j. Z. 8. Stu
arts cavalry in the Gettysburg cam
patgn and in defense of that heroic
officer from the unfavorable criticism
passed on his course in thar campaign
The splendid services OF Jeb Stuart
to the Southern cause are written on
the hearts OF the Southern people, and
his superb leadership In that brilliant
though mistaken raid around the Fed
eral army between June 28 and July
/, and later his invaluable service on
the retreat from Gettysburg, are,
think. universally acknowledged. They
were long ago celebrated. among oih-
ers, by General Fritzhugh Lee in his de-
scription OF the Gettysburg campaign,
contained IN his Life OF General Rob-
CRIT e. Lee" pages 265-6- The most
brilliant cavalry officer of the Army OF
Northern Virginia did not have to walt
for Colonel Mosby TO sing his praises
in the year 1908.
But there have been and are many OF
the soldiers of Lee who, though they
yield to none in their admiration OF
General Stuart, nevertheless are OF
errors OF Judgment in the Gettysburg
campaign, and that these contributed
not little TO the Confederate failure.
Unfortunately. these recent publlca-
lions of Colonel Mosby are of such
character that IL is necessary to reopen
this painful subject ana TO speak as
plainly as that writer has done. rms
is more necessary because his argument
is so plausible and is stated with so
much dialectical skill that only tho
very careful reader is likely TO detect
It's fallacies.
Colonel Mosby first impeachss the
accuracy of both of General Lees re-
ports of tho battle of Gettysburg (of
July 81. 1868. and January. 1860 in
several important statements .nade
therein, viz: /. That General Lee was
in Ignorance of Rockers movements
until the night of June IS, 1868. when
General Longstreet's scout reported
his army approaching South Mountain;
.. That General Lee then and therefore
changed his plan and ordered his army
to concentrate east Of South Mountain,
$. That 1t had been Lees intention to
concentrate at Harrisburg and that he
ordered Hill and Longstrcet to that
place after reaching Chambcrsburs; Il
That "the bsence of the cavalry rem
dered 1t impossible TO obtain accurate
information" of the movements and
position Of the Federal army.
This serious impeachment of Genera!
Lees accuracy in regard to the par
ticulars OF his own campaign is largely
based on letter taken from General
Lees official letter book, and dated
at Chambersburg, June %, 1880 A. Nj.
In which General Loe says 10 Genera!
Ewell:
II wrote you last night stating that
General Hooker was reported to nave
crossed the Potomac and Is advancing
by way OF Middletown, the head OF his
column being at that point in Freoer-
lex county, I directed you In my let
ter to move your forces to this point"
Colonel Mosby declares that this Let
ter refutes every word" OF the state
mont OF General Longstreet,. Colonel
Marshalb General Long, Colonel Walter
Taylor, General Fitz Lee and General
Lees own report In regardito tho can-
paign IN the particulars above named
lie further SAYS that General EwelPs
and General Narly's reports show that
the movement against Harrisburg was
arrested on June ~, and thus agree
with tho statements Of the letter OF
June 90. which he quotes.
Now, affirm, OF the contrary, that
the reports OF Ewell and Early are
irreconcilable with the accuracy OF the
date of this famous letter. Nobody can
reconcile this letter. as dated (June
! IS, I:3O a.. No with the indisputable
facts of tho campaign The genuine-
ness of the letter is nndisputed-it is
In the we'll known handwriting of Col
onel Yeliable, OF Lees staff-but the
h accuracy Of the date is called In ques-
llun, Suppose 1t to have been written
( mn June 20, and it is then in complete
harmony with General Lees report.