The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-10-16

regiments advancing through the woods
in good order; so, thinking was just in
time to see the attack, remarked to the
General tina. "I wouldn't have missed
his for anything" Longstreet was seat
Cd at the top of snake fence, and look
ing perfectly calm and unperturbed. He
replied, laughing, "The Devil you would
nj. would like to have missed it very
much. We've attacked and been repuls-
cd. Look there! For the first time
hen had view of the open space be-
tween the two positions, and saw it COW
sred with Confederates, slowly aud sulkily
returning toward us, under a heavy fire of
artillery. But the fire where we were
was not 50 bad as further to the rear; for
although the sir seemed alive with shell,
yet the greater number burst behind US.
The General was making the best ar
engagements in his power to resist the
threatened advance, by advancing some
artillery, rallying the stragglers, &c. l
remember seeing a General (Pettigrew 1
think it was,) come up to him, and report
that che was unable to bring his men up
again" Longstreet turned upon him and
replied with some sarcasm, every we'll
never mind, then, General just let them
remain where they are; the enemy is
going to advance, and will spare you the
trouble"
He asked for something to drink;
gave him some rum out of my silver flask,
which begged he would keep in remem-
brance of the occasion he smiled, and,
to my great satisfaction accepted the me-
mortal. He then went off to give some
orders to McLaws' division.
"Soon afterward, l joined General Lee,
who had, in the meanwhile, come to the
front, on becoming aware Of the disaster.
If Longstreet's conduct was admirable,
that of Gen. Lee was perfectly sublime.
He was engaged in rallying and in encour-
aging the broken troops, and was riding
about little in front Of the wood, quite
alone-the whole of his staff being engag-
ed in similar manner further to the rear.
His face, which is always placid and cheer
full, did not show signs OF the slightest dis
appointment, care, or annoyance; and he
was addressing to every soldier he met a
few words of encouragement, such as,
All this will come right in the end; We'll
talk it over afterward but, in the mean
time all good men must rally. We want
all good and true men just now,' &C. He
spoke to all the wounded men that passed
him, and the slightly wounded he exhort-
ed to bind up their hurts and take up a
musket in this emergency. Very few
failed to answer his appeal, and l saw
many badly wounded men take Off their
hats and cheer him."
He said to me, "This has been sad
day for us, Colonel, "a sad day but we
can't expect always to gain victories" He
was also kind enough to advise me to get
into some more sheltered position.
Notwithstanding the misfortune which
had so suddenly befallen him, General
Lee seemed to observe everything, how
ever trivial When mounted officer be-
gan licking his horse for shying at the
bursting of shell, he called out, "Don't
whip him, Captain, don't whip him. I've
got just such another foolish horse myself,
and whipping does no good
[ happened to see man lying fiat on
his face, in small ditch, and remarked
that | didn't think he seemed dead. This
drew General Lees attention to the man,
who commenced grooming dismally. Find
ing appeals to his patriotism of no avail,
General Lee had him ANONYMOUSLY set
on his legs by some Of the neighboring
gunners.
I saw General Wilcox Gan officer who
wears short round jacket and a battered
straw hat) come up to him and explain,
almost crying, the state of his brigade.
General Lee Immediately shock hands with
him and said, cheerfully, "Never mind,
General; all this has been mytauH; it is
I that have lost this fight, and you must
help me out of it the best way you can. "
In this manner 1 saw General Lee en-
| courage and reanimate his somewhat dis
heartened troops, and magnanimOusly take
upon his own shoulders the whole weight
of the repulse. 1t was impossible to look
at him or to listen to him without feeling
the strongest admiration, and never saw
any man fail him except the man in the
ditch.
1t is difficult to exaggerate the critical
state of affairs as they appeared about this
time. If the enemy or their general had
shown any enterprise there is no saying
what might have happened. General Lee
and his officers were evidently fully i'm
pressed with sense of the situation; yet
there was much less noise, fuss, or con-
fusion Of orders than at any ordinary field
day; the men as they were rallied in the
wood were brought up in detachments and
lay down quietly in the positions assigned
them.
At ten o'clock A. M, July 4, the decis-
ion to commence retreat that evening
was made known to his officers. The
writer says this step was made imperative
by the want of ammunition. In another
place he says there was enough left for
one days fighting.
"Gen. Longstreet talked to me long
time about the battle. He said the mis-
take they had made was in not concentra-
ting the army more, and making the at
tack with 10000 men instead of $4,000
The advance had been in three lines, and
the troops of Hills corps who gave way,
were young soldiers who had never been
under fire before.
The writer, in his journal on the I'd,
blamed MEADE for not attacking. But on
the 4th he says: I" think, after all, that
General Meade was right not to advance