Where's Stuart?

Many say that the South lost the Battle of Gettysburg because of the absence of the Confederate Calvary. I agree. This subject has stirred much controversy among historians. Because Calvary General J.E.B. Stuart failed to arrive at Gettysburg when needed, the South would not only have won Gettysburg, but possibly the War.

In late June, 1863, the Army of Northern Virginia begins to cross the Potomac River to begin its' invasion of the North. Using the Blue Ridge Mountains to screen their movements, they proceed north across Maryland into Pennsylvania. General Robert E. Lee, commander of the Army of Northern Virginia, gave orders to the head of the Confederate Calvary to locate the enemy and keep the enemy from finding Lee. The head of the Rebel Calvary was Major General J.E.B. Stuart.

Lee wanted Stuart to accompany the infantry into Pennsylvania; Stuart disagreed with these orders. Stuart wanted to harass the Union's army and delay their pursuit of Lee. Lee reluctantly agreed. The commander of the Union Army pursuing Lee was Major General Joseph Hooker. Stuart moved around Hooker's rear instead of crossing the Potomac at Shepherdstown, as Lee had strongly suggested. This put Hooker between the infantry and the Calvary. It is said that the Calvary is the eyes and ears of an army. Without communications to the Calvary, Lee was "blind". Stuart again failed to do what he was supposed to do. Stuart was to find General Ewell and cover his right flank. He could not find Ewell. Stuart could have avoided all this trouble if he had crossed at Shepherdstown as Lee had originally suggested.

Stuart had left his supply wagon in Virginia because he thought it would slow him down. Stuart's Calvary were now living off the country courtesy of the state of Pennsylvania. This, however, was not good enough. Stuart had to now decide whether to go through Hanover or Fredrick, which was in Yankee hands. He chose Hanover. What Stuart did not know was that Hanover was the direct supply route between Washington and the Union army. A wagon train going through Hanover was full of food and luxuries. Stuart's Calvary captured the wagon. He then had to write paroles for 400 prisoners, which wasted precious time. Stuart had to bring the wagons with him since he could not parole vehicles. These wagons further slowed his journey to Gettysburg as he brought them all the way with him. He arrived on the last day of the battle.

Because of these inexcusable events, the Confederacy lost the War. If Stuart had followed Lee's orders and suggestions, this tardiness would have been avoidable. Lee was upset with Stuart but did not accept his resignation. Lee wrote in his report of the battle "the movements of the army preceding the Battle of Gettysburg had been much embarrassed by the absence of the Calvary." One of the greatest commanders ever clearly said 'embarrassed by the absence of the Calvary'. It is far from clear that the Rebel army lost Gettysburg because of Stuart's insubordination. Since the Battle of Gettysburg was a major turning point in the War for the Union Army, Stuart's inadequacies probably cost the Confederacy victory in the War.

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