GDG- RE: Ewell and the Hight Ground

[Tom Ryan]

<<To expound on my last post, regarding the use of cavalry, I think it is
informative to consider Jackson's behavior at Chancellorsville. After tha
initial rout of the XI Corps, from what I know, Jackson did not wait for
Stuart to scout out the position. Instead, he scouted the position himself
and attempted to press the attack with his infantry. It seems to me that
cavalry was used primarily for scouting before a day's fighting started, not
at the hight of battle.>>

Todd,

	Scouting was just as important before, during and after a battle.  The
situation with Jackson you cite is a case in point, because Stuart's cavalry
scouted the Union right flank during the battle and found it was "in the
air" which gave Lee and Jackson the opportunity for a crushing flank attack.

	In addition to scouting during battles, cavalry at times also provided
artillery fire control information by placing vedettes on high eminences and
reporting on enemy positions.  Cavalry also provided communication between
commanders and their units on the battlefield in order to insure these units
were in the correct position given the unfolding circumstances.

	Another important duty of cavalry during battles was to cover the army's
flanks, and keep the commander informed about enemy movements.

Tom Ryan