170 The American Civil WarThe Battle of Gettysburg
'Jeb' Stuart's Southern cavalry again occupied
center stage as the armies sidled northward
and crossed the Potomac - or, more
accurately, Stuart's cavalry exited stage right
and became conspicuous by their absence.
While Lee pushed north, into and through
the Shenandoah valley, Stuart embraced the
chance to ride a raid entirely around the
Union army. He had done just that twice
before, in June and October 1862. This time
the dashing maneuver backfired in deadly
fashion. The cavalry detachment
accompanying the main force in Stuart's
absence had neither the men nor the
leadership necessary to perform the essential
function of screening Lee from enemy view,
while simultaneously finding the enemy and
tracking his progress and intentions. When
Stuart finally rejoined Lee very tardily at
Gettysburg, the commanding general said
quietly, but in clear rebuke, 'Well ... you are
here at last,' and 'I had hoped to see you
before this.' Stuart's ride became one of the
most-disputed subjects among postwar
Above. General George Gordon Meade took command
of the Federal Army of the Potomac scant hours before
the Battle of Gettysburg, but still won a great victory
there. He has never received the credit he deserves for
his achievement, largely because he scorned journalists
and belonged to the wrong political party.
(Public domain)Left. Confederate General James Longstreet's behavior
on 2 July remains the most controversial aspect of the
Battle of Gettysburg. (Public domain)Right. The war's largest battle engulfed the farms and
hillsides around Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, on the first
three days of July 1863. The Confederate army won a
tremendous victory northwest of town on 1 July and
swept through the streets in triumph. The Federals made
a stand on a fishhook-shaped line south of Gettysburg,
taking advantage of the slopes of Cemetery Ridge and
anchored on the formidable heights of Culp's Hill and
Little Round Top. Lee's efforts against the Federal right
on 2-3 July met with very little success, but near the
Round Tops the Confederates came close to a major
success. On 3 July, with his options dwindling, and loath
to return to Virginia. Lee flung his center across open
fields toward Cemetery Ridge. This attack, usually known
as 'Pickett's Charge,' unfolded with immense drama and
elicited tremendous courage from its participants, but
yielded nothing for Lee but daunting casualties. He now
had no choice but to retreat south toward Virginia.