View single post by Eric Wittenberg
 Posted: Thu Mar 15th, 2007 01:40 am
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Eric Wittenberg
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Joined: Sat Dec 16th, 2006
Location: Columbus, OH
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Mana: 
 Ashby had absolutely no talent for any of the traditional roles of cavalry, which means that he would not have been of much use under Stuart. 

Instead, allow me to suggest an alternative.

Where Ashby would have truly excelled, given his ability to recruit large groups of men, would have been as a partisan commander.  In my humble opinion, had Ashby lived, he would have been John Singleton Mosby.  In other words, he would have been the most prominent Confederate guerrilla, and Mosby probably would have remained a scout and staff officer. 

I can't envision Ashby in the "regular" service serving under Jeb Stuart.  It wouldn't have happened.  Ashby would have chafed, and Stuart would not have tolerated it.

Eric