Saber and Scapegoat: J.E.B. Stuart and the Gettysburg ConventionThe major facts of the Gettysburg campaign and battle are well known, but controversies about its outcome abound even today. No issue is more contested than that of the whereabouts of the dashing cavalryman, Maj. Gen. J. E. B. Stuart. Author Mark Nesbitt gives a detailed reconstruction of Stuart's actions during the campaign and presents the case that Stuart was not at fault for the loss: He was following orders to the best of his ability. The blame surrounding Stuart only surfaced after the war when, in an attempt to exonerate Lee, some veterans vilified Stuart unfairly. Unfortunately for the great cavalryman, that culpability has stuck. Nesbitt's findings challenge generations of Gettysburg historiography and are certain to fuel the controversy for years to come. |
Contents
| xv | |
| 1 | |
| 3 | |
| 15 | |
| 41 | |
| 43 | |
Orders | 57 |
Around the Yankees Again | 75 |
The Third of July | 95 |
Covering the Withdrawal | 107 |
THE CONTROVERSY | 121 |
Stuart under Attack | 123 |
Mosby Parries | 145 |
Marshalls Epitaph | 173 |
Postmortem | 181 |
To Gettysburg | 85 |
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Saber and Scapegoat: J.E.B. Stuart and the Gettysburg Controversy Mark Nesbitt No preview available - 1994 |
Common terms and phrases
Aldie artillery Ashby's Gap attack Bachelder Bachelder Papers Battery Battle of Gettysburg Blackford blame Blue Ridge Buford captured Carlisle Cashtown cavalry Chambersburg Chambliss charge Coddington Colonel column command Confederate corps cross the Potomac Davis dismounted dispatch Early enemy enemy's Ewell Ewell's Federal army fighting Fitz Lee Fitzhugh Lee force Freeman Gettysburg campaign Hagerstown Hampton Hanover Harpers Ferry Heth Heth's Hill Hooker horses Ibid Imboden infantry J. E. B. Stuart Jackson Jenkins John Jones July June 23 Lee's brigade Lee's orders Longstreet Major Marshall Marshall's Maryland McClellan Middleburg miles military Mosby's mountains movements moving northward Munford night officers orders to Stuart Pennsylvania raid rear regiment Richmond ride right flank river road Robertson rode saber scouts sent Shepherdstown skirmishers Snicker's staff Stuart left Stuart's Cavalry Stuart's Letters Stuart's orders Stuart's role told Union army Virginia Cavalry wagon train Washington Williamsport Yankees York
Popular passages
Page 13 - You may dispose of me very easily, — I am nearly disposed of now ; but this question is still to be settled, — this negro question I mean ; the end of that is not yet.
Page 212 - Do you know where he is and what he is doing ? I fear he will steal a march on us and get across the Potomac before we are aware. If you find that he is moving northward, and that two brigades can guard the Blue Ridge and take care of your rear, you can move with the other three into Maryland and take position on General Ewell's right, place yourself in communication with him, guard his flank and keep him informed of the enemy's movements, and collect all the supplies you can for the use of the army.
Page 58 - Shepherdstown. It will reach there to-morrow. I also directed General Stuart, should the enemy have so far retired from his front as to permit of the departure of a portion of the cavalry, to march -with three brigades across the Potomac, and place himself on your right and in communication with you, keep you advised of the movements of the enemy, and assist in collecting supplies for the army.
Page 20 - He is a rare man, wonderfully endowed by nature with the qualities necessary for an officer of light cavalry. Calm, firm, acute, active, and enterprising, I know no one more competent than he to estimate the occurrences before him at their true value.
Page 130 - If General Hooker's army remains inactive, you can leave two brigades to watch him and withdraw with the three others; but should he not appear to be moving northward, I think you had better withdraw this side of the mountain to-morrow night, cross at Shepherdstown next day and move over to Fredericktown.
Page 130 - General Stuart was left to guard the passes of the mountains, and observe the movements of the enemy, whom he was instructed to harass and impede as much as possible should he attempt to cross the Potomac.
Page 127 - I cannot think what has become of Stuart; I ought to have heard from him long before now. He may have met with disaster, but I hope not. In the absence of reports from him, I am in ignorance as to what we have in front of us here. It may be the whole Federal army, or it may be only a detachment. If it is the whole Federal force we must fight a battle here; if we do not gain a victory, those defiles and gorges through which we passed this morning will shelter us from disaster.
Page 61 - You will, however, be able to judge whether you can pass around their army without hindrance, doing them all the damage you can, and cross the river east of the mountains. In either case, after crossing the river, you must move on and feel the right of Ewell's troops, collecting information, provisions, etc.
Page 69 - Your object will be to watch the enemy; deceive him as to our designs, and harass his rear if you find he is retiring. Be always on the alert; let nothing escape your observation, and miss no opportunity which offers to damage the enemy. After the enemy has moved beyond your reach, leave sufficient pickets in the mountains, withdraw to the west side of the Shenandoah, place a strong and reliable picket to watch the enemy at Harper's Ferry, cross the Potomac, and follow the army, keeping on its right...
Page 133 - Stuart with the remainder of his command would soon arrive. In the exercise of the discretion given him when Longstreet and Hill marched into Maryland, General Stuart determined to pass around the rear of the Federal army with three brigades, and cross the Potomac between it and Washington...