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There is an excellent book on the subject entitled The Sabre and the Scapegoat. It is well worth the read. I think you might be surprised what you find there from not only Stuart's staff, but from Mosby, Early, and finally Longstreet himself that supports the argument that Stuart followed his orders, and Lee's blindness was self-inflicted. I am not pitting Lee versus Stuart. Both men have my deepest admiration and respect

Thanks for the clarification...you seem well-knowledgeable in CW facts and must have researched something I haven't, however, there seems to be ample fact that Lee was mightedly pissed in Stuart when he finally made an appearance at G'burg for some reason (according to historians). I blame the battle of G'burg onlittle-known general William "Extra Billy" Smith. Smith (twice governor and twice senator of Virginia) was a 67-year-old politician with Ewell's (previously Stonewall Jackson's) command when he fell on to the town. Typical of dirtbag politicians, he immediately began orating to the people of Gettysburg why the Confederacy was there, stalling miles upon miles of columns of butternut-clad Johnnies, and in the meantime someone discovered there was a shoe factory nearby--the rest, as they say, is history.

Again, Lee could be very angry, but is that anger justified? (Lee was also angry during the 7 Days Battle, but who was giving this segmented army difficult manuevers, to commanders without good maps, especially when they did not know the ground. He did realize the problem later and fixed it quite well) Was it Stuart's fault that Lee failed to use the force left with Lee to do exactly what Stuart is blamed for not doing.

Major Blackford says in later writings that Lee wanted Stuart only and that is why he did not use Jones and Robertson. Again, is that Stuart's fault?

One last thing, and I'll let you alone, Gettysburg was not Lee's final destination. He turned around. The army was headed toward the Susquehanna. It is hindsight and total speculation that Gettysburg was lost because Stuart was not out scouting. Especially since Lee won the first day. It is total speculation that Stuart, without infantry support, could have pierced Meade's cavalry screen.

For those who blame Stuart, I would challenge them to prove that Stuart's presence would have made the difference. BTW, when word reach Stuart, he sent Fitzhugh back immediately, and Fitzhugh arrived a whole day before Stuart and was not put into action by Lee. So, again...why?

You can also add A.P. Hill to your list. The shoe factory had already been cleaned out by Early on his way to York. Hill knew this because Early had told him.

Heth was sent to Gettysburg to pick a fight.

Why else would you need an entire division to raid a shoe factory? Really...

The book I recommended will tell you many things about how the current history was established, long after Gettysburg had ended and how even Longstreet said that Stuart was not wrong and was doing exactly what he was ordered to do.

I am hoping that you will reconsider Stuart on your list. John Sedgwick said he was the finest calvaryman ever foaled in America. Lee said (upon Stuart's death) that he never brought me one false bit of news. And Stuart was an inventor holding two patents that enabled the US Calvary to perform their tasks better. Have you considered Stuart's screen of Lee at the Potomac while they waited for the river to go down so they could cross after Gettysburg. That was one of the main reasons Meade chose not to go after Lee...

I hope I haven't bored you too much!