Southern Historical Society Papers, Volume 23.
Reverend J. William Jones, Ed.

In his book General Longstreet says: ‘The extent of authority with me, therefore, was to decide whether the crossing should be made at the Point of Rocks, or around Hopewell Gap, east of the Union Army.’ The Point of Rocks is nowhere mentioned in the correspondence, and General Longstreet's own letter is proof that it was not considered as a place for Stuart's crossing. He tells Stuart that it is better to go by the rear of the enemy than by ‘our rear.’ Now at that time Longstreet and Hill were in the valley fronting east; the Point of Rocks is twelve miles east of the Blue Ridge; their rear way, then, of course, toward the west. In crossing at Point of Rocks Stuart would not have been in rear of either army, but in front of both. If, on the contrary, Stuart had come over the Blue Ridge and crossed the Potomac at Shepherdstown, he would have passed in our rear. General Longstreet says: ‘In the postscript three points are indicated: First, the move along my rear to the crossing at Point of Rocks.’ As Longstreet was west of the Blue Ridge facing east, and Stuart was east of the Ridge, it is hard to see how he would pass Longstreet's rear in moving to the Point of Rocks. The Point of Rocks is not mentioned in the letter. ‘Second, my preferred march on my flank to the Shepherdstown crossing.’ There is no such preference shown in the letter; just the reverse, as Longstreet urges Stuart not to cross in ‘our rear,’ which would have been at Shepherdstown. ‘Third, the route indicated by General Lee.’ But in his letter of the 22d, to Stuart, General Lee indicated no route—he merely ordered Stuart (if General Longstreet could spare him from his front) to join Ewell. Of course he couldn't join Ewell—stay with Longstreet, as they were seventy-five miles apart, and the distance widening. He further says: ‘Especially did he (Stuart) know that my orders were that he should ride on the right of my column, as originally designed, to the Shepherdstown crossing.’ Stuart didn't know anything of the kind—neither did General Longstreet. The record is against him. The very letter that Longstreet forwarded to Stuart from General Lee told him to leave Longstreet and go to Ewell.