Saber and Scapegoat: J.E.B.Stuart and the Gettysburg Controversy

Description

The major facts of the Gettysburg campaign and battle are well known, but controversies about its outcome abound even today. No issue is more contested than that of the whereabouts on that crucial day of the dashing cavalryman, Maj. Gen. J. E. B. Stuart. Author Mark Nesbitt gives a detailed reconstruction of Stuart's actions during the campaign and presents the case that Stuart was not at fault for the loss: he was following orders to the best of his ability. The blame surrounding Stuart only surfaced after the war when, in an attempt to exonerate Lee, some veterans vilified Stuart unfairly. Unfortunately for the great cavalryman, that culpability has stuck. Nesbitt's findings challenge generations of Gettysburg historiography and are certain to fuel the controversy for years to come.

Mark Nesbitt, former park ranger and historian at Gettysburg National Military Park, is a recognized authority on the Gettysburg campaign. He has written tour pamphlets, screenplays, and audio scripts for the National Park Service and private enterprises in Gettysburg. He has written numerous books, including 35 Days to Gettysburg: The Campaign Diaries of Two American Enemies.