Stuart went "off track" prior to the battle, vanity, he failed to do his duty, which was to locate and report on the movements of the Union Army. He let his commander down, and the whole army, with his "joyriding". Was Longstreet correct, should Lee have "stomped" him?

 

Buford's instincts were excellent. He knew that the fight for the high ground would determine the outcome of the battle. Some say it determined the outcome of the war.

 

The interesting dynamic here is that Stuart is Lee's favorite son. Very much like his loyalty to Virginia, Lee's loyalty to Stuart will prevent him from taking action. Is this a good thing?

 

After the Mexican War, Lee was named commandant of West Point. His favorite cadet, Jeb Stuart. A few years later, just prior to the Civil War, Lieutenant Stuart (wearing blue) was Colonel Lee's (wearing blue) choice to lead the raid against John Brown's "gang" at Harper's Ferry. Both served in the raid at the pleasure of President Buchanon, some more irony. Stuart could have been easily shot by Brown's men. Stuart was an inspirational and courageous leader.

Prior to Gettysburg, Lee (J. Shaara) described Stuart's performance as indicated in GODS AND GENERALS:

Just before the Battle of Second Manassas (Bull Run):

Lee: "General Stuart has proven himself very valuable again."

Longstreet: "I do wish...begging your pardon, General, but he needs to be kept on a shorter leash. He has a great love of headlines. It may cause some problems."

Lee: "General Stuart has his ways...certainly different from our ways, you and me. But he is young, and he inspires the men. And if the newspapers love him, then he can inspire the people as well. There is no harm in that."

 

Lee does take action with Stuart, as we'll see. Stuart is a man, makes mistakes. Are Stuart's failures the cause for the confederacy's defeat at Gettysburg? Does a good leader "stomp" or court-martial a General for such a mistake? What effect will Stuart's "court-martial" have on the army? Particuarly after it lost it's best field commander just prior to Gettysburg, Stonewall Jackson (May, 1863)?

"...And Thou knowest O Lord, that when Thou didst decide that the Confederacy should not succeed, Thou hadst first to remove Thy servant, Stonewall Jackson."

Who is ultimately responsible for the actions of the Army of Northern Virginia?

 

Seems that Lee did have some feet of clay, didn't he. I think Lee himself will have something to say about that after the failed charge on day three.

 

Vito,

That is an interesting question, but were Stuarts actions simply mistakes? I think not. His "joyriding" in this case seems more than just mistakes. I think Lee should have seen this more clearly and reigned him in.

I don't want to jump too far ahead but the episode with Stuart offering his sword to Lee seems insincere at best except that Lee either doesn't see or doesn't want to see it.

 

Keep in mind that Stuart's escapades in Pennsylvania would have a bad effect on the fragile morale in Washington.....where few would have believed the bravado of the southern troops....tramping north of the M-D line.

Yes, Stuart was seeking headlines but didn't the Army of Northern VA need that boost from both cavalry and infantry?

 

Possibly so, but I'd have thought that they'd have more benefitted from his doing his job.