GDG- Buford's departure on July 2

[Tom Ryan]

<<Thanks for the kind words, Tom.  I'm really pleased to hear that you
enjoyed the article.  I agree with your assessments right down the line; we
really take Pleasonton to task in our study of the retreat for failing to
concentrate and use his cavalry effectively.  It was a very poor use of his
mounted arm, and it allowed an opportunity to cut Lee off before reaching
the Potomac and forcing him to fight in the vicinity of Smithsburg to slip
through his fingers.>>

Eric,

That is good news that your forthcoming book on the retreat will cover the
cavalry situation in more depth than existing studies on the retreat have
done.  There are a lot of questions that remain unanswered.  My sense is
that a combination of the unwillingness of the AoP command to act
assertively following the three-day battle at Gettysburg, and Pleasonton's
general lack of leadership/management ability were the main culprits in the
Union cavalry's inability to accomplish significant achievements during the
pursuit of the ANV to the Potomac.

Look forward to your book filling that void.

Regards, Tom