Mosby, John S. (1833-1916) to Sam Chapman
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC05470 Author/Creator: Mosby, John S. (1833-1916) Place Written: Washington, D.C. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 21 March 1910 Pagination: 2 p. ; 26.6 x 20.2 cm. Order a Copy
Refers to Gettysburg. Contrasts differing reports of Henry Heth and Ambrose Powell Hill about going to Gettysburg after some shoes.
"War Records" refers to the vast compilation Official Records of the War of the Rebellion (1909). Historians still debate the connection between shoes and the Battle of Gettysburg. Charles Marshall, aide to Robert E. Lee, had penned Lee's orders for General J.E.B. Stuart and later accused Stuart of not following orders. Stuart's separation from the main body of the Confederate army during most of the Gettysburg Campaign earned him tremendous criticism after the war and a great part of the blame for Lee's defeat. Mosby wrote numerous article and a book, Stuart's Cavalry in the Gettysburg Campaign (1908), in an attempt to clear his commander's name. For more of Mosby's views about Gettysburg see GLC 3921, a collection of fifty-six letters written by Mosby to Samuel Chapman.
March 21st 1910
Dear Sam:
I suppose you have seen the letter of Heth's brother in yesterday's Times-Dispatch _ Tell Hugh not to be uneasy: - I shall take no notice of it. He says Heth did go on July 1st to Gettysburg after shoes _ I say that neither A. P. Hill's or Heth's reports say they went after shoes. Heth's says that he sent Pettigrew on June 30th after shoes - but he found out that the enemy were holding the [inserted: place] & didn't try to get them. A. P. Hill does not mention shoes - Heth's & A. P. Hill's reports say they knew the enemy held Gettysburg but they went to find out how many there were. This was an after thought to cover up their blunder. They went on a raid - but got caught. The first thing I ever wrote about Gettysburg for a newspaper was in December 1877 in reply to an attack on Stuart by Heth. Again in 1891 I said the same about Heth that I say in my book. Again in 1896 Chas. Marshall made his attack on Stuart - I replied & repeated what I said about Heth. He & Marshall were then living - They made no answer. So it was Heth who first attacked the dead. Now [2] I want you to read in the War Records & ask Mr. Gordon & Hugh to read Heth's & Hills reports of how they precipitated a battle at Gettysburg & see if I have misrepresented them. Heth's letter written over 30 years ago wh. Talcott republished contradicts his report. Heth's brother says that Heth didn't know the Yankees were at Gettysburg - Heth's report says he did know it.
Yours Truly
Jno: S. Mosby
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