GDG- Re: Gettysburg Digest, Vol 45, Issue 38

[Alan D. Brunelle]

J. David Petruzzi wrote:
> Esteemed GDG Member Contributes:
>
>
> Hi Mike,
>
> Stuart didn't take the trains, escorted then by Hampton, all the way to
> Carlisle. They went just north of Dillsburg, where Stuart had them parked
> while he and the other two brigades proceeded to Carlisle.
>
> Taking the trains along, as Eric and I offer in our book "Plenty of Blame,"
> can be seen as both a "mistake" and a "benefit" depending how you look at
> it.  The bulk of the captured material in those trains consisted of animal
> feed, and Stuart's men used it as such.  Otherwise, they would have had to
> turn their mounts off to graze much more frequently and for longer periods.
>
> Stuart's three brigades each took turns escorting the wagons, so as not to
> burden the entire column.  Also, Stuart had 2 of each of the 4-mule teams
> disconnected so as to speed the train along, and also took the rest of the
> mules along in column and traded them off continually to keep the animals
> fresher.
>
> Best regards,
> J.D.

Hi J.D.

I think the discussions of the pros/cons with the wagon train was one of 
the high points in a  book with a lot of them in it. The carefully 
thought evaluation on this (and other points) was very eye-opening. At 
least for these eyes! :-)

Alan