What if Stuart had been at Gettysburg earlier?

[jonreb]

Before the Battle of gettysburg, Lee was marching through pennsylvania virtually blind without his cavalry. Now whether this was entirely Stuart's fault is open to discussion, but I believe that Lee would have bben much better off with Stuart by his side. Could the rebs have had a deeper knowledge of the ground if Stuart had been there?

[ole]

Originally Posted by jonreb

Before the Battle of gettysburg, Lee was marching through pennsylvania virtually blind without his cavalry. Now whether this was entirely Stuart's fault is open to discussion, but I believe that Lee would have bben much better off with Stuart by his side. Could the rebs have had a deeper knowledge of the ground if Stuart had been there?

Most certainly. Lee was trying to concentrate his scattered forces when approaching the Gettysburg area. If he had had earlier intelligence (which Stuart should have supplied) on the disposition and numbers of approaching forces, he may well have proceeded differently. If he would have been better off, is one of those what-ifs that are interesting, but speculative.

He would not have allowed the "shoe expedition" to set out. He may have pulled back until his concentration was complete. He may have decided that he didn't want to do battle against such a force and foraged his way back to Virginia -- thus leaving his forces intact for a major encounter under circumstances more to his liking. The lack of Stuart's communication was unfortunate. Without assigning blame, it ultimately led him into a situation he would not have selected.

Cest la guerre.

[gary]

Could have done a flanking movement if he knew exactly where and how strong them dar Yankees war.

[whitworth]

Lee mismanaged his cavalry from the beginning of the raid into Pennsylvania. He gave too many tasks to Stuart to fulfill. Stuart was expected as last out of Virginia and nearly first into Pennsylvania, after Ewell's Corps.
Lee never proved as effective on offense, as he was magnificent on defense.

Lee picked the wrong option for Stuart. He chose not to order him to go through Ashby Gap and cross the Potomac, north of Harpers Ferry. Lee knew Stuart could not proceed directly north and into the face of AoP cavalry that protected the areas from Upperville to Aldie.
Lee, Stuart and Mosby all thought moving through a gap in the Bull Run Mountains was an option. In the fortunes of war it was not. By the time Stuart moved on June 25 to the Bull Run Mountains, Lee's cavalry manuevers failed. The AoP would skillful and effective move towards the Potomac River, before any Confederate general or even Mosby, anticipated.
Lee picked the wrong cavalry plan and had no backup if Stuart failed to arrive in PA within two days.