Gettysburg and Boots

[Wild Bill]

Lee's problem with cavalry is commonplace in the Civil War on both sides. He had 3 brigades of cavalry that he basically lost track of, still guarding passes into the Shenandoah. Another was correctly up with early in the army's advance. He made the same mistake when he tried to cut off McClellan in front of Richmond in 1862. He sent Stuart and the horsemen to burn out the US supply hub at White House Landing when McClellan had already transferred most of operations south to Harrison's Landing on the James. What Lee was missing at Gettysburg was pointed out by John Mosby in the 1880s--he missed Stuart personally to direct the cavalry, something Lee did not usually do, in spite of his mounted service in Texas before the war.

The rest of Jim's statement I agree with. Lee was maneuvering to come in on Washington from the northwest, with options of hitting Harrisburg or Baltimore instead. On July 1, both sides were looking for a fight, unaware of where the other really was. The Yankees were fortunate that they had their two best men in the right spot (the crossroads of Gettysburg) at the right time (July 1). The cavalry was led by John Buford, an expert at holding back Confederate attacks. The other was John Reynolds, a no-nonsense fighter, who led some of the best Union infantry available. Their defense upset the Confederates, who expected more inexperienced Pennsylvania militia.The rest of the battle has kept historians busy criticising both Lee and Meade and their subordinates ever since.