Aftermath Chambersburg Raid

rebuilding destroyed railroad

stuart had managed second ride around mcclellan, had done during peninsula campaign 4 months earlier. had traveled 126 miles (203 km). confederates progressed on final 80 miles (130 km) in 36 hours without stop. stuart had 2 men missing , few wounded upon return virginia. 60 broken down confederate horses left behind. stuart returned without servant, bob, had fallen asleep along route and, along 2 of stuart s 3 horses, had been captured union soldiers. in late november, however, bob rejoined stuart.

stuart had secured parole of 280 soldiers, captured 1,200 horses, 30 public officials, variety of arms , ammunition, intelligence union army , turned aside pleasonton s force while embarrassing mcclellan. men had destroyed railroad depot, shops, warehouses , several miles of railroad line, although failed destroy conococheague creek railroad bridge. value of destroyed property estimated @ quarter of million dollars @ time.

stuart s chambersburg raid provided boost confederate morale , corresponding depression of union morale, among cavalry, , embarrassment mcclellan , lincoln administration after battle of antietam. sergeant major elisha hunt rhodes wrote in diary: ashamed rebels allowed make late raid pennsylvania.... union brigadier general marsena r. patrick said affair burning disgrace.

the raid provided lee information mcclellan s dispositions , intentions. stuart received near universal acclaim in south, including robert e. lee s conclusion raid eminently successful , praise stuart s boldness, judgment , prowess. brigadier general jubal did not entirely agree, calling raid greatest horse stealing expedition annoyed enemy. many of horses draft animals, fit hauling artillery not of use cavalry.

mcclellan responded failure keep assurance halleck capture or destroy stuart s force variety of excuses, including poor condition of cavalry s horses, , having cavalry undertake reconnaissance towards charlestown, (west) virginia , martinsburg, (west) virginia. destruction of supplies @ chambersburg , failure of union quartermasters supplies harpers ferry, (west) virginia , hagerstown, maryland, when mcclellan expected them on october 10, gave mcclellan further reasons postpone movement of army. in view of conclusion fatigue of horses heavy patrolling , chase of stuart s force, on october 21, 1862, mcclellan, still encamped in maryland, sent halleck message asking more horses. president lincoln responded mcclellan in telegram asking: pardon me asking horses of army have done since battle of antietam fatigue anything? mcclellan did not send army toward warrenton, virginia until october 25, 1862. took 9 days men , equipment entirely across river. stuart s cavalry fought series of inconclusive cavalry skirmishes various union army units in loudoun county, virginia, between october 31 – november 2, 1862 in known battle of unison or battle of union.

mcclellan s failure deal chambersburg raid contributed imminent loss of command. mcclellan allowed lee s army between army , richmond, virginia, president lincoln reached end of patience mcclellan , replaced him commander of army of potomac major general ambrose burnside on november 7, 1862.