Plenty of Blame to Go Around by Eric J. Wittenberg

Author:Eric J. Wittenberg [Wittenberg, Eric J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Bisac Code 1: HIS036050
ISBN: eBook ISBN: 9781611210170
Publisher: Savas Beatie
Published: 2006-09-12T07:00:00+00:00

Another ex-cavalryman who opined on the Stuart’s ride imbroglio was Thomas L. Rosser. The Virginian ended the war a major general, but was the colonel of the 5th Virginia Cavalry during the Gettysburg Campaign. Rosser achieved a rank beyond his talents because he was one of Jeb Stuart’s favorites and because Stuart arranged for Rosser’s promotion over more competent officers like Col. Thomas T. Munford of the 2nd Virginia Cavalry. However, the ungrateful Rosser grew to resent and then despise Stuart because he believed his commander took too long to arrange for his promotion.

Years after the war, Rosser wrote about his patron’s performance during the campaign in question. After describing the ride up to and including the fight at Hanover, Rosser noted that “Stuart had been marching constantly, almost day and night, on scant forage and little rest for man or horse, for eight days, within the enemy’s lines, and while his conduct displayed a daring almost to recklessness, he accomplished little, save the wear and fatigue of long marches. He had undoubtedly impaired the strength and vigor of his command.” He was just beginning to sharpen his pen. “Major McClellan,” continued Rosser,

who so blindly worshipped Stuart that he could see none of his imperfections, while acknowledging the error of this move of Stuart’s is disposed to place the blunder on the shoulders of Gen. R. E. Lee (who was certainly able to carry them). But while every officer in those two grand armies, Confederate and Federal, ascribe great merit to Stuart as a cavalry general of great ability and unexceptional enterprise, courage and energy, we know that he was like all other men, human and liable to err, and did in my opinion on this campaign, undoubtedly, make the fatal blunder which lost us the battle of Gettysburg.44

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