Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies: J.E.B. Stuart at Gettysburg

James Ewell Brown "JEB" Stuart (February 6, 1833 May 12, 1864) was the most famous cavalry officer of the Civil War, fighting for the Confederacy in Lees Army of Northern Virginia until his death at the Battle of Yellow Tavern in May 1864. Although he was well known for his dashing ways, Stuart was also brilliant in the role due to his mastery of reconnaissance and the use of cavalry in support of offensive operations. While he cultivated a cavalier image (red-lined gray cape, yellow sash, hat cocked to the side with a ostrich plume, red flower in his lapel, often sporting cologne), his serious work made him the trusted eyes and ears of Robert E. Lee's army and inspired Southern morale. Stuart established a reputation as an audacious cavalry commander and on two occasions (during the Peninsula Campaign and the Maryland Campaign) rode around the Army of the Potomac in its rear, bringing fame to himself and embarrassment to the Union generals, especially General George McClellan. At the Battle of Chancellorsville, he distinguished himself as a temporary commander of the wounded Stonewall Jackson's infantry corps. However, Stuarts role at Gettysburg was far more controversial. Given great discretion in his cavalry operations before the battle, Stuarts cavalry was too far removed from the Army of Northern Virginia to warn Lee of the Army of the Potomacs movements. Lees army inadvertently stumbled into the Union army at Gettysburg, walking blindly into what became the largest battle of the war. Stuart has been heavily criticized ever since, and it is said Lee took him to task when he arrived on the second day, leading Stuart to offer his resignation. Lee didnt accept it, but he would later note in his after battle report that the cavalry had not updated him as to the Army of the Potomacs movements. Naturally, as leader of the Army of Northern Virginias cavalry, Stuart had to write official accounts of his campaigns, and they were preserved in The War of the Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. Since Stuart died in 1864 at the Battle of Yellow Tavern, his only primary accounts of the war come from his commands and post-battle accounts, preserved in the Official Records. This edition of Stuarts official account of the Pennsylvania Campaign includes pictures of the important commanders of the battle.

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