Jeb Stuart's death

[Ter61]

It has been said that Jeb Stuart's death was the worst thing that happened to Lee's army since the death of Jackson. Does anybody see anything that might have been done different if Jeb Stuart had lived?

[cw1865]

I really don't, the early Confederate superiority in the calvary department had largely eroded by 1864, the Federal calvary had learned its lessons and its firepower had increased with repeaters. Plus Early's 'calvaryesque' corps-sized raid in 1864 is probably more than the Confederates would have expected even had Stuart been around.

[ole]

I'll go along with CW. Stuart's flash and dash had been made irrelevant before he was killed. The Union Cavalry had finally stopped limping along and became the equal of the Confederate Cavalry. To avoid an argument, I'll not say superior, although I should.

ole

[larry_cockerham]

I'll go along with CW. Stuart's flash and dash had been made irrelevant before he was killed. The Union Cavalry had finally stopped limping along and became the equal of the Confederate Cavalry. To avoid an argument, I'll not say superior, although I should.

ole

You might try the phrase 'better - equipped'. Then, again, you might not want to.

[ole]

Carrying Spencer's might be considered "better equipped," but that would be applicable only in a battle situation. I was referring to the Union Cavalry's having learned how to cavalry properly. Before the Spencer's were distributed, the Union Cav acquitted itself quite well before Gettysburg--was that Bristoe Station? Buford seems to have done a more than adequate job in screening the Union advance into PA and finding the ANV.

That sort of thing didn't happen a year before. In the west, one can watch Wilson and Hatch develop as cavalry commanders. "Better equipped" ultimately was an advantage, but it's not the whole reason.

ole

[whitworth]

even before Gettysburg, the Union cavalry was better armed, better horsed, and becoming competent, even against Confederate cavalry.

[Ter61]

I don't think anything would have been different if Jeb Stuart had lived. However, his death was a bad psychological blow to the Confederates.

[whitworth]

Once the U.S. decided to fight for the land; poured billions into its military; would not end the war, the Confederacy had little chance of remaining as it originally intended. It's best chance was getting a tired North to end the war, with the Confederacy winding up with some six states in its Confederacy.

The thirteen Confederate states, represented by stars, in its battle flag, was a total illusion after the first year.

Remember by 1863, even R.E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, Jubal Early and Jeb Stuart could not save the western Virginia counties for the Confederacy.