The Role of Jeb Stuart in the Battle of Gettysburg The Civil War is sometimes said to be the second war of American independence. This war was a nation fighting itself, North versus South, each side fighting for what they believed in. America suffered many tragedies from the war, but it also brought new advancements in technology and medicine, as well as battle strategy. The Battle of Gettysburg is often said to be the turning point of the Civil War. This battle was a major win for the Union, as it shattered the confidence of the South, which led to the Union winning many more battles and eventually winning the war.
Jeb Stuart was a failure at the Battle of Gettysburg because he arrived two days late and failed to inform Lee of the Union’s position. Jeb Stuart, whose full name was James Ewell Brown Stuart, was born on May 12, 1833 in Patrick County, Virginia. In 1850 he joined the US Military Academy. He graduated thirteenth in his class in 1854 (“James Ewell Brown Stuart” 1). He married Flora Cooke in 1855 and they had three children. Stuart had always wanted to fight in the army, and the Civil War gave him the perfect opportunity to do so. He joined the Confederate army because he was from Virginia, a Confederate state.
He had served in United States army for a few years prior to joining the Confederate army at the start of the Civil War. He began serving in the cavalry in 1855. He then helped Lee capture John Brown at Harper’s Ferry in 1859. When the Civil War began Stuart was appointed as leader of the 1st Virginia Cavalry (“James Ewell Brown Stuart” 1). Jeb Stuart quickly became an important member of the army. It is stated, “Stuart became one of the most skilled scouts and intelligence officers in the war” (“James Ewell Brown Stuart” 2). He distinguished his bravery at the First Battle of Bull Run.
The next year he was promoted to major general and was put in command of Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia. Stuart also showed his bravery and leadership at the Second Battle of Bull Run, the Battle of Fredericksburg, and the Battle of Chancellorsville (“James Ewell Brown Stuart” 1-2). It is clear in The Killer Angels that Stuart was very important to Lee. Lee thinks, “Jackson was gone, Stuart would go, like leaves from autumn trees” (Shaara 74). Jackson was one of Lee’s most trusted leaders, and worrying about Stuart’s death in comparison with Jackson’s shows how much Lee needs and respects Stuart.
He led troops through many battles and often adventured through enemy territory. Stuart had led cavalry through the small town of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania while raiding other Pennsylvania towns. He was well respected by his soldiers, and they had faith in his character. William Willis Blackford stated, “Most of these facts were discovered by Stuart from intercepted dispatches, and his sagacity, boldness and quickness were taxed to the utmost to meet the occasion” (“William Willis Blackford” 9). This is stated as they are escaping the Union army while returning to Virginia.
Jeb Stuart’s main failure of the war was the Battle of Gettysburg. However, after the battle, he refused to let Lee down again, and was one of Lee’s most valuable cavalry leaders. His skill allowed the Confederates to keep up with the Union cavalry in the last two years of the war (“William Willis Blackford” 12). To conclude, Jeb Stuart was a very important leader in the Civil War, despite his failure at Gettysburg. Jeb Stuart was to be the “eyes and ears” of Lee’s army at Gettysburg (Landsman 1). He was to track the union army and report their position to Lee. Stuart’s specific order was to meet Ewell’s right flank.
It is stated, “Stuart was tasked by Lee to gain information on the enemy’s movements and to damage and delay the enemy before joining Ewell in Pennsylvania”(“Jeb Stuart” 2). Stuart didn’t take a direct path and Union troops ended up blocking his path, leading him to take a longer route. It is explained, “He rode up to the battle on the Union’s flank and hoped to surprise attack the Union at Gettysburg however by that time, the Union developed an adequate cavalry to combat and hold off the Confederacy’s” (“). E. B. Stuart” 1). He also was unable to provide Lee with information (Landsman 2-3).
Stuart’s failure to provide General Lee with information left Lee in an unwanted battle (“Jeb Stuart” 2). Had Stuart reported the location and movements of the Union army, the battle may have not occurred or been such a catastrophic loss for the Confederate army. As time went on, Lee became more and more uncertain about the whereabouts, plans, and size of the Union army in the area (“1863: The Tide Turns”5). On the first day of the battle Lee stated, “I cannot imagine what’s become of Stuart. I’ve heard nothing. You understand I know nothing of what’s in front of me. It may be the entire Federal army” (Shaara 100).
This shows how Lee is worried about Stuart, but also slightly frustrated as he has no idea what he is facing because he has not received information from Stuart. Other soldiers were angry with Stuart for his failure. Longstreet states, ‘When Stuart comes back, if he does come back-which he will eventually, if only just to read the Richmond newspapers- you ought to court-martial him” (Shaara 82). This shows how Longstreet and likely other soldiers wanted Stuart to be punished for his failure. Lee was cut off from Stuart, and therefore Stuart had no way of knowing where the Army of Northern Virginia was located.
He learned that they had engaged in battle at Gettysburg early in the morning on July 2, and immediately began the trip there (Landsman 3). He ended up arriving two days late. General Lee was disappointed but also relieved (“). E. B. Stuart” 1). When Stuart arrives, Lee tells him, “But it is of the opinion of some excellent officers that you have let us all down” (Shaara 265). This shows how other officers were disappointed in Stuart and he was viewed as a failure during that battle. Lee was very unhappy with Stuart’s failure.
Landsman states, “While no firsthand accounts exist of the interaction, second hand reports from Lee’s staff officers suggest that Lee reprimanded Stuart for his failures up to that point in the campaign” (4). In The Killer Angels Lee says, “You were my eyes, your mission was to screen this army from the enemy cavalry and to report any movement by the enemy’s main body. That mission was not fulfilled… You left this army without word of your movements, or the movements of the enemy, for several days. We were forced into battle without adequate knowledge of the enemy’s position, or strength, without knowledge of the ground.
It is only by God’s grace that we have escaped disaster” (Shaara 265). It is clear that Lee was very disappointed in Stuart. Stuart’s failure may have cost the Confederates victory at Gettysburg and victory in the war as a whole (“). E. B. Stuart” 1). Gettysburg was the turning point of the war, and Stuart failed to provide Lee the information he needed to be victorious. Jeb Stuart was not incredibly significant after the battle of Gettysburg. He was sure not to let down Lee again. He successfully managed his cavalry through 1863 and 1864.
He was wounded during a battle at Yellow Tavern and died from his injuries two days later (“James Ewell Brown Stuart” 2) However, his significance before the battle of Gettysburg helps him to be well remembered. Stuart had a significant contribution to the Confederate success at the beginning of the war. He helped win many battles and was promoted to Major General and he was the leader of Lee’s successful cavalry (“James Ewell Brown Stuart” 1). His most significant victories were likely those at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. He also provided Lee the information needed to win earlier battles (“Stuart, James Ewell Brown” 1).
It was stated that Stuart was, “the model of Virginian cavaliers and dashing chieftain, whose name was a terror to the enemy, and familiar as a household word in two continents” (“The Late Gen. ” 1) Overall, Jeb Stuart will be remembered as a Civil war hero. However, his failure at Gettysburg will not be forgotten. His failure to provide Lee with information on the Union army may be a main reason as to why the Confederates ended up losing the war. To conclude, Stuart’s failure at Gettysburg may be the most significant Confederate failure in the Civil War.
