GDG- Beverly Robertson

[Teej Smith]

> Esteemed GDG Member Tom Ryan Contributes:
>
>
> The derivation of Stuart and Lee's low opinion of Beverly Robertson is
> covered in Edward Longacre's "Lee's Cavalrymen."  Longacre says that soon
> after Robertson became commander of the 4th Virginia Cavalry under 
> Stuart's
> command in 1861, he was considered by those around him to be a prima 
> donna,
> Stuart labeled him "by far the most troublesome man I have to deal with."

    Stuart's history with Bev Robertson predates the Civil War. He was a one 
time contender for the hand of Miss Flora Cooke.  The letter he wrote to her 
after Stuart was killed at Yellow Tavern appeared in one of the CW magazines 
several years ago. I don't know what changed for Robertson but his 
commander, then a Colonel,  Philip St. George Cooke thought the world of him 
and often mentioned him in his dispatches until he found that Robertson had 
been "appointed a captain in the Confederate adjutant general's department 
to rank from March 16, 1861. Cooke didn't find out about this until August 
8, 1861 at which time Robertson was "dismissed from the U.S. Army having 
given proof of his disloyalty." Kind of an understatement, no?

Regards,
Teej