FW: GDG- Stuart and the historians

[Tom Ryan]

<<Indeed, what you write is true, but it doesn't keep me from wondering how
Lee understood his responsibility to secure  adequate reconnaissance  in the
absence of Stuart. Pure conjecture makes me ask if is it possible that in
Mexico Lee only learned the how of  gathering  operational intelligence in
the field without absorbing the operational commander's responsibility of
securing it? How else can we explain his failure to assign other
resources?>>

Dick,

	Good question.  The answer is complicated because Lee after a manner did
"assign other resources" that did not accomplish the mission as intended.
Briefly, before Stuart left on his ride that took him around the Union army,
he delegated his two primary cavalry responsibilities to BG Beverly
Robertson whom he left in charge of two brigades.  Robertson's job was to
watch the Union army (i.e. collect intelligence), and protect Lee's right
flank (screening the army).  Unfortunately for Lee, Robertson, who had a
record of failing to do his job, failed once again, and this time
spectacularly.  He neither observed the AoP's crossing of the Potomac, nor
did he  leave immediately to get on the right of the army to protect it.

	So, in a manner of speaking, Stuart's absence would not have been felt as
badly, if Robertson had done his job.  At the same time, Stuart had been so
reliable in the past that Lee had learned to place full trust in his
judgment and ability.  By the time Lee realized that this time something had
gone wrong, it was too late to compensate for Stuart's absence and
Robertson's failure to fulfill his assignment.

	There were some other issues about Lee not properly employing the cavalry
that arrived on July 1 near Gettysburg with Ewell's corps, but those were
minor compared the situation just described.

Regards, Tom