GDG- Heth

[Margaret D. Blough]

Tom,

For me, the bottom line has always been that Stuart asked Lee's permission for this mission, and Lee gave it.  If Lee had said no, I have no doubt that Stuart would have been unhappy but, as a good soldier, would have accepted Lee's decision. The fact is that all of the ANV leadership had become far too accustomed to being able to take advantage of AOP mistakes while the AOP appeared to be clueless, with limited exceptions, on how to recognize, much less take advantage of ANV mistakes.  The AOP came into its own at the worst possible time for the ANV.  If it hadn't, the AOP wouldn't have gone on the march and done it so quickly and there would have been no enemy army between Stuart's command and the ANV and Lee would not have found, to his consternation, that the AOP was in Pennsylvania just as Ewell was about to take Harrisburg.

Regards,

Margaret

-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: "Tom Ryan" <pennmardel at mchsi.com> 

> Esteemed GDG Member Contributes: 
> 
> 
> <> and most of his direct subordinates - should have 
> been relieved following the Campaign. For many 
> reasons - Lee (long time friendships and family 
> relations) did not do this and never would have 
> done it - in spite of the negative impact on the 
> ANV during the Gettysburg Campaign. 
> 
> George F. Franks, III>> 
> 
> George, 
> 
> That is more than a bit over the top. While there was mis-communication 
> between Lee and Stuart that caused Stuart's temporary separation from the 
> main army prior to the Battle of Gettysburg, Stuart's cavalry protected the 
> army from possible attack and destruction during the retreat. 
> 
> Historians generally have been overly critical toward Stuart because of the 
> separation, and virtually silent regarding the impressive performance of the 
> cavalry during the retreat. 
> 
> If Lee thought that Stuart had not carried out his responsibilities 
> properly, there is little doubt in my mind that he would have replaced him. 
> Lee was not one to play favorites, nor to tolerate incompetence. 
> 
> Regards, Tom 
> 
> 
> 
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