GDG- Cavalry (again): Buford's withdrawal

[Alan D. Brunelle]

J. David Petruzzi wrote:
> Esteemed GDG Member Contributes:
>
>
> Chet and Allan,
>
> There's no evidence that it was Buford who asked to be withdrawn.  That was
> an unfortunate and unsubstantiated conclusion on Longacre's part - which
> he's subsequently backed off of (see his "Lincoln's Cavalrymen book, in
> which he corrects this and states that it was Pleasonton's idea) and also in
> private conversations with myself, Eric, and likely others.
>
> Buried in the back of the Gettysburg ORs is a long-overlooked missive from
> Butterfield which orders Buford south to Taneytown, per Pleasonton's
> request.  Quite timely, Eric Wittenberg has an article appearing in the
> upcoming July issue of Gettysburg Magazine, titled "The Truth About Buford's
> Withdrawal on July 2" which will be of great interest of all of the readers,
> and goes into great detail on this issue.
>
> Incidentally, NOT all of the cavalry was pulled from the field.  Devin left
> behind 2 undersized companies (about 100 troopers) of his 9th NY Cavalry
> under Capt. Timothy Hanley, and was assigned to Sickles.  Sickles kept these
> troopers at his HQ, and never used them for any type of recon.  Apparently
> by then he had already made up his mind to adjust his position.  There were
> also several other cavalry companies with the infantry corps HQ, as well as
> with AOP HQ.  There's no way to estimate, but there could very well have
> still been something like several hundred mounted cavalrymen on the field
> still.
>
> J.D.
>
>   

Thanks very much J.D. - it certainly didn't sound like Buford to me...

That's extremely fortuitous that Eric is doing that article (for me & 
Chet at least, but I'm sure for others as well).

Alan (just one L - look it up, 'Alan' with one 'l' comes from old Celtic 
meaning "handsome, cheerful" - I guess one out of two ain't bad...)