Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 37.djvu/29

 '''STUART'S CAVALRY IN THE GETTYSBURG CAMPAIGN.'''

By Col. John S. Mosby.

A Review by COL. T. M. R. TALCOTT. After reading Col. Mosby's book, which I had not seen until recently, I asked Col. Walter H. Taylor whether he had made any reply to it, and received the following letter from him:

"N 12th, 1909.

Dear Colonel,—I have received your letter of the loth inst. I read what Mosby had to say about Gettysburg some time ago. I did not attach much importance to his statements and did not publish, neither have I any intention to publish, anything in reply. I think some of the partisans of General Stuart have done him more harm than good in their contributions concerning army movements in the Gettysburg Campaign.

What I have claimed is simply this: Although certain discretion was allowed General Stuart as to his movements, he was admonished all the while to keep in touch with our main army and to keep General Lee informed as to the movements of the enemy. Secondly: that General Lee was greatly disturbed and embarrassed at not receiving any tidings from General Stuart concerning the movements of the enemy.

Some of General Stuart's defenders have claimed that he simply exercised the discretion allowed him when he crossed the Potomac where he did and pursued the route that he did; and that it was impossible for him to keep General Lee informed of the movements, of himself and the enemy because the enemy intervened between him and General Lee. It is not a good defense of General Stuart to say that it was impossible for him to communicate with General Lee when he had himself put himself in a position where it was impossible, although admonished