GDG- Re: Gettysburg Digest, Vol 27, Issue 10
Margaret D. Blough
mdblough1 at comcast.net
Fri Aug 11 17:53:37 CDT 2006
"What appears to have happened here is that Hill, in order to get rid of
Robertson, took the three cavalry regiments that were to stay behind in NC
and assigned them directly to infantry divisions to avoid having a cavalry
command for Robertson, and, therefore, a reason for him to stay in NC.
Instead, the two cavalry regiments that were being sent to the ANV needed a
commander, and Robertson was given the job to go north with them.<<
It does give new meaning to the phrase, "What goes around, comes around."<g> BTW, it looks like a number of the generals under DH Hill were also deportees from the ANV.
Regards,
Margaret
-------------- Original message --------------
From: "Tom Ryan" <pennmardel at mchsi.com>
> Esteemed GDG Member Contributes:
>
>
> A little more light on the Robertson situation. In a message dated May 23,
> 1863, Lee gave Stuart instructions and advice about the organization and
> conditioning of the cavalry division. In talking about the recent additions
> to the cavalry force, Lee mentioned:
>
> "I wished to leave Robertson in North Carolina, but learned from the
> President that General Hill had attached each of the three [cavalry]
> regiments there to the divisions of Generals French, Whiting, and himself,
> and consequently he had no command [for Robertson] but the [two] regiments
> he brought out [to Virginia]. I shall endeavor, if possible, to get another
> regiment from North Carolina, but think it doubtful. I wish we had a camp
> of instruction and refreshment for cavalry. Robertson would be an excellent
> person to put in charge of it, but, as far as I can see, he would now have
> but little to do."
>
> What appears to have happened here is that Hill, in order to get rid of
> Robertson, took the three cavalry regiments that were to stay behind in NC
> and assigned them directly to infantry divisions to avoid having a cavalry
> command for Robertson, and, therefore, a reason for him to stay in NC.
> Instead, the two cavalry regiments that were being sent to the ANV needed a
> commander, and Robertson was given the job to go north with them.
>
> Lee, knowing Stuart's negative feelings toward Robertson, apparently tried
> to console him with his comments about wishing the ANV had a cavalry
> training school of some sort to which Robertson would fit in nicely as
> commander. In the end, Stuart had to be reconciled to accepting Robertson
> as one of his brigade commanders. As a result, there would be trouble
> ahead.
>
> Tom Ryan
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: gettysburg-bounces at arthes.com
> [mailto:gettysburg-bounces at arthes.com]On Behalf Of Tom Ryan
> Sent: Thursday, August 10, 2006 3:35 PM
> To: GDG
> Subject: GDG- Re: Gettysburg Digest, Vol 27, Issue 10
>
>
> Esteemed GDG Member Contributes:
>
>
> Some further insight into the politics surrounding the return of Brig. Gen.
> Beverly Robertson to the ANV after he had been reassigned to North Carolina.
> In discussing in a message to President Davis the possibility of D.H. Hill
> releasing some NC cavalry to reinforce the ANV, on June 2, 1863 Lee had this
> to say:
>
> "I do not know the condition of the cavalry proposed by General Hill to
> be
> sent to this army. He offered a regiment, and I accepted it....
>
> I thin it would be better if General Robertson were in command of the
> cavalry within the State [of North Carolina], as he is a good organizer and
> instructor, but General Hill does not appear to require him. I would then
> brigade the North Carolina regiments in this army, under Colonel Baker, from
> that State, who is said to be a good offier."
>
> Cutting through the diplomatic double talk, what is being said here is
> that
> Lee wants the NC cavalry but please do not send me Gen. Robertson. The
> business about him being a good organizer and instructor is a polite way of
> saying that Robertson is worthless to me as a field commander. (This is
> roughly equivalent to the fact that George B. McClellan was good at
> organizing and training the AoP, but did not know what to do with it once he
> left his encampments.)
>
> Also note Lee's subtle reference to the fact that "General Hill does not
> appear to require him." Translation: "Hill is trying to dump Robertson on
> me, and I would prefer that he stay in NC." Lee had a ready solution in
> proposing that Col. Baker would head the brigade of North Carolinians in the
> ANV. However, that was not to be, because Gen. Hill ended up getting his
> way. Robertson came north with the troops.
>
> The source for this message is OR, vol. 25, part 2, page 848.
>
> Tom Ryan
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: gettysburg-bounces at arthes.com
> [mailto:gettysburg-bounces at arthes.com]On Behalf Of Tom Ryan
> Sent: Thursday, August 10, 2006 8:39 AM
> To: GDG
> Subject: RE: GDG- Re: Gettysburg Digest, Vol 27, Issue 10
>
>
> Esteemed GDG Member Contributes:
>
>
> <> decisions was the decision to reassign Robertson back to the ANV in the
> spring of 1863. Haines does not make it clear who made this decision, only
> that Lee was opposed. If Robertson was as obviously incompetent as the
> article makes him sound, surely they could have found a way to leave him in
> North Carolina.>>
>
> Tim,
>
> What happened here was that Lee requested the War Department to beef up
> the
> cavalry contingent of the ANV in light of the growing size and
> sophistication of the Union cavalry. Lee told Secretary Seddon that he
> needed to substantially increase the size of the ANV cavalry that stood at
> about 5,000 at the time including the three brigades of Fitz Lee, Hampton
> and "Rooney" Lee.
>
> Three cavalry brigades were added from the Shenandoah Valley (Jones and
> Jenkins) and from Western Virginia (Imboden). In addition a demi-brigade
> (two regiments) was sent from North Carolina, and along with them came
> Robertson who had earlier been exiled to that location by Lee and the War
> Department. However, apparently D.H. Hill, who was in charge in NC, did not
> appreciate the services of Robertson anymore than Lee did. So he sent
> Robertson along with the two regiments back to Virginia. Lee, for his part,
> had little choice in the matter. If he wanted the additional cav from NC,
> he had to accept Robertson along with them. Lee made no protest.
>
> Tom Ryan
>
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