Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 23.djvu/248

 242 Soiitln ni Ilisinrirul Snctcty Papers.

Stuart to remain with him, knowing that General Lee had ordered him to Ewell. All of Stuart's critics have ignored the fact that General Lee ordered Stuart to leave him and go to Ewell. General Longstreet wrote as follows to General Lee :

"June 22, 1863 7:30 P. M. "General R. E. Lee, Commanding, &c.:

"GENERAL, Yours of 4 o'clock this afternoon is received. I have forwarded your letter to General Stuart, with the suggestion that he pass by the enemy's rear if he thinks he may get through. We have nothing of the enemy to-day.

" Most respectfully,

"JAMES LONGSTREET, ' ' Lieutenant- General, Commanding. ' '

LONGSTREET TO STUART.

In the correspondence during this period between Lee, Long- street, and Stuart this is the first intimation about taking the route in the rear of the enemy, and it seems that General Longstreet sug- gested it. This is his letter to Stuart:

" MILLWOOD, June 22, 1863 7 P. M. " Major- General J. E. B. Stuart, Commanding Cavalry:

"GENERAL, General Lee has inclosed to me this letter for you, to be forwarded to you, provided you can be spared from my front, and provided I think that you can move across the Potomac without disclosing our plans. He speaks of your leaving via Hopewell Gap, and passing by the rear of the enemy. If you can get through by that route, I think that you will be less likely to indicate what our plans are than jf you should cross by passing to our rear. I forward the letter of instructions with these suggestions. Please advise me of the condition of affairs before you leave and order General Hamp- ton, whom I suppose you will leave here in command, to report to me at Millwood, either by letter or in person, as may be the most agreeable to him.

" Most respectfully,

" JAMES LONGSTREET,

' ' Lieutenant- General. ' '

" N. B. I think that your passage of the Potomac by our rear (Shepherdstown), at the present moment, will in a measure disclose