Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 37.djvu/224

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been validated.
216
Southern Historical Society Papers.

Chambersburg. There are also inaccuracies in General Stuart's report, as when he says that General Lee informed him it was likely one column of the army would move through Gettysburg, the other through Carlisle. What General Lee wrote was that one column would move through Emmittsburg., the other through Chambersburg.

*********

And now as to the second, and main, point of Colonel Mosby's contention that General J. E. B. Stuart acted in strict accordance with General Lee's instructions between the 23rd of June and the 2nd of July. What were General Lee's instructions to General Stuart? He wrote to Ewell that he had instructed General Stuart "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." To General Stuart himself Lee wrote on June 22nd, "You can move with the other three (Brigades) into Maryland and take position on General Swell's right, place yourself in communication with him, guard his flank, keep him informed of the enemy's movements and collect all the supplies you can for the use of the army. One column of Ewell's army will probably move towards the Susquehanna by the Emmittsburg route, another by Chambersburg."

[Observe that when General Lee gave General Stuart this order to take position on General Ewell's right, that officer was just leaving Hagerstown. In his report (Rebellion Records, Vol. XXVII, part 2, p. 443,) he says that on June 22nd, he "received orders from the Commanding General to take Harrisburg, and next morning Rodes and Johnson commenced their march into Pennsylvania."

This order was repeated in a letter to General Stuart dated June 23, a part of which I will quote:

"Headquarters, Army of Northern Virginia,

JUNE 23, 1863, 3:30 P. M.

"Major-General J. E. B. Stuart, Commanding Cavalry:

"General, * * *
"If General Hooker's army remains inactive you can leave two