J.E.B. Stuart

[whitworth]

If one studies Stuart's OR, one can easily come to the conclusion that Lee had seriously underestimated the Army of the Potomac. Don't study what really happened to Stuart and one avoids laying any blame at Lee's feet and the top command of the Army of Northern Virginia.

Little credit is given to the fact that Stuart's cavalry was engaged heavily by Union cavalry in the Aldie, Middleburg and Upperville area of Virginia, only some days before his scheduled trip to Pennsylvania.

Stuart was also the last large unit of the Army of Northern Virginia scheduled to move into Pennsylvania. Stuart needed no roadblocks. By the time he started leaving Virginia, it was already June 25. Clearly, moving behind Longstreet and the other corps, crossing the Potomac River,north of Harper's Ferry was ruled out. Crossing between Harper's Ferry and the Leesburg area was also ruled out. It would have been logical for the latter, but several Union corps were just south of the Potomac River and in the Leesburg area.
Stuart mentioned crossing through a gap in the Bull Run Mountains -the Hopewell Gap. No mention is made by Stuart, why this gap was not used. Army of the Potomac dispatches reveal that the gap was blocked, days before Stuart left for Pennsylvania.

Lee had underestimated the AoP and its good reasoning to block all the major gaps through the Bull Run Mountains.

In retrospect, Stuart left too late to get to Pennsylvania in two days. Lee totally underestimated the time when the AoP would actually cross the Potomac River. Stuart was just starting from then Salem Virginia, on June 25, the very same day Hooker was crossing some of his corps, near Leesburg.
Logically, Stuart had no opportunity to inform Lee of the AoP crossing for at least three days. Totally underestimating by Lee was the fact that the AoP would get the march on Stuart, by days, before Stuart even arrived at the Potomac River.

In Summary, Lee had drawn up a plan that had to go picture perfect, which usually never happens to an army on the offense. Lee separated his army from Stuart, because Lee needed Stuart to block the gaps in the Blue Ridge Mountain. Too many goals; too little time to accomplish them. The AoP got over the Potomac River and put itself between the Confederate infantry corps and Stuart's large cavalry force. The Army of Northern Virginia had seriously underestimate Hooker and the AoP. Stuart would never recover from that underestimation of AoP movement. If Lee were truly shocked when the scout told him on June 28, that the AoP had crossed the Potomac, I wonder how surprised he was,when he learned that it had happened on June 25.

Those who blamed Stuart, seriously avoided the competence of the Army of the Potomac in getting its army moving into Maryland and eventually to Gettysburg. Those who blamed Stuart, failed to shed light on Lee's serious underestimation of the Army of the Potomac.

[mobile_96]

Then again, If Stuart had been on the Right of Lee, and the Left of the AoP, it would have been possible to notify Lee earlier than the 28.
Chuck in IL.

[whitworth]

For nearly 140 years, historians had the profound duty to not criticize Robert E. Lee for anything that happened at Gettysburg.

Now I just read that Stuart was at fault for not carrying out Lee's Napoleanic movement from East Cavalry Field on July 3, around the Union right and attacking Cemetery Ridge from the rear and destroying the Army of the Potomac.

Of course, the author never mentions the condition of Stuart's troopers and horses. Stuart had been on the move since June 25, with hardly any rest.

The wheels just fell off the Confederate wagon, and it's all someone else's fault beside Lee. Surely it was Stuart's fault that an inventory wasn't taken of available artillery shells on the morning of July 3.

Poor Stuart, he got too famous for riding around an army in 1862.

[milhistbuff1]

When Stuart was at Hanover, Early's men were 5 miles away and heard his fight with Kilpatrick, why didn't Early follow orders and aid Stuart or at least investigate? Whats more, why didn't Lee insist on Early keeping an eye, or ear out for him?
Respectfully,
Matt

[manofdreds]

Early's men were at that distance but by that time (June 30), there seemed to be a massive amount of confusing orders sent to Ewell. To march on Harrisburg and capture it, if possible, then followed up by march towards gettysburg, followed by APHill's note that he was marching on gettysburg. Even though Ewell was asked if he heard from Stuart, I believe that Stuart was still under orders from Longstreet. Since Stuart had to screen the initial march north Stuart had orders to secure the passes and report directly to Longstreet. But credit has to be given to the Union cavalry for keeping Stuart out of contact with the main body. By that time Early was already marching for gettysburg. This only goes to show how Lee was not in control of events that were happening. Lee could've concentrated his army without battle until Stuart made his appearance on Jul 1 all he had to do was pull in the reigns on Hill and his massive 12,000 man reconnaisance! In retrospect Ewell could've left a regiment of Jenkins cavalry, which was near Harrisburg, to link with stuart but again by late June 30 and into Jul 1 it was all too late.

[milhistbuff1]

Surely Early could have spared Extra billy or Avery's brigade, it's not like he would be disobeying orders. Besides, if JEB came straight from Hanover to Gettysburg, that would have brought additional pressure on the 11th corp flank, thus making the capture of cemetary hill even more likely.

[whitworth]

If seriously at fault, why wasn't Stuart replaced by Lee?

[manofdreds]

As the campaign ended Lee should've dropped quite a few officers. LOL. Stuart could've been sent to another department. Mahone should've been arrested for disobeying orders. Pendleton should've been replaced sometime ago. Longstreet should've been sent West right after Gettysburg. Hill should've been place a sick leave.

[milhistbuff1]

Powell shouldve been sent to NC, not DH. your right about Pendleton though. DH mightve been an abrasive *** but at least he led his corp in battle not retire to a sickbed.
Matt

[manofdreds]

Oh! I forgot a couple of more. Jenkins should've been sent back to W.Va. minus his brigade. ONeal and Iverson both lost their commands so that's taken care of. Heth sent back to Bragg. Joe Davis back to Richmond and Brockenbrough also sent away. I think that about covers it. Can there be a case made for accusing Rhodes of disobeying orders. He had orders on Day 2 to support Early's attack. At one point Early was expecting Rhodes brigades to march out of the town and attack.