The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-03-29
After Gettysburg.
AN INCIDENT IN THE LIFE OF GENERAL
R. E. LEE.

r. E. LEE.
General (Confederate) j. D. Imbodel
writes for the GALAXY an article on Lee a
Gettysburg, from which we take the fol
lowing:
When night closed upon the grant
scene, our army was repulsed. Silenc
and gloom pervaded our camps. w,
knew that the day had gone against us
but the extent of the disaster was no
known, except in high quarters. The car
mage of the day was reported to have beer
frightful, but our army was not 10 retreat
and we all surmised that with Tomorrow
dawn would come a renewal of the strug.
gle; and we knew that if such was the
case those who had not been in the fight
would have their full share in the honors
and the dangers of the next day. All fell
and appreciated the momentous conse.
quences of final defeat or victory on that
great field. These considerations made
that, to us, one of those solemn and awful
nights that every one who fought through
our long war sometimes experienced before
great battle.
Few camp-fres enlivened the scene. II
was warm summers night, and the wea-
ny soldiers were lying in groups on the
luxuriant grass of the meadow we occu-
pied, discussing the events of the day, OF
watching that their horses did not stragge
off in browsing around. About IL o'clock
a horseman approached and delivered a
Fac Hn,,oro1 hot bax Oh 4
to see me Immediately. l mounted al
once, and, accompanied by Lieutenant
McPhail. of my staff, and guided by the
courier, rode about two miles toward Get
tysburg, where half dozen small tents on
the roadside were pointed out as General
Lees headquarters for the night. He was
not there, but / was informed that would
find him with General A. p. Hill, half a
mile further on. On reaching the place
indicated, a Pickering, solitary candle,
visible through the open front of a com
mon tent, showed where Generals Lee and
Hill were seated on camp stools, with a
county map spread upon their knees, and
engaged in low and earnest conversation.
They ceased speaking as l approached
and after the ordinary salutations, General
Lee directed me to go to his headquarters
and wait for him. He did not return un.
til about o'clock, when he came riding
along at a slow walk, and evidently wrap.
ped in profound thought.
There was not even sentinel on duty
and no one of his staff was about. The
moon was high in the heavens, shedding a
flood of soft silvery light, almost as bright
as day, upon the scene. When he ap-
preached and saw us, he spoke, reigned up
his horse, and essayed to dsmount. The
effort to do so betrayed SO much physical
exhaustion that stepped forward to assist
him, but before / reached him be had
alighted. He threw his arm across his
saddle to rest himself, and fixing his eyes
upon the ground leaned in silence upon his
equally weary horse; the two forming a
striking group, as motionless as statue.
The moon shone full upon his massive
features, and revealed en- expression OF
sadness had never seen upon that fine
countenance before. had waited for him
to speak until the silence became painful
and embarrassing, when to break it, and
change the current of his thoughts, re-
marked in sympathetic tone, and in allu-
sion to his great fatigue:
General, this has been hard day on
you"
This attracted his attention. He looked
up and replied mournfully:
"Yes, it has been sad, sad day to u.s. I
and Immediately relapsed into thoughtful
mood and attitude. Being unwilling
again to intrude upon his reflections,
said no more. After minute or two he
suddenly Strengthened up to his full height
and turning to me with more animation
energy, and excitement of manner than
had ever seen in him before, he addressed
me in voice tfemulous with emotion and
said:
General, never saw troops behave
more magnificently than Pickett's Division
of Virginans did to-day in their Crane
charge upon the enemy And if they had
been supported, as they were to have beer
but, for some reason not yet fully ex
planned to me, they we're not-we woule
have held the position they SO gloriouslJ
won at such fearful loss of noble lives
and the day would have been ours"
After a moment, he added in tone o
almost agony:
"Too bad Too bad Oh, too bad 7
never shall forget, as long as live, hi
language, and his manner, and his appear
ance and expression of mental suffering
Altogether it was scene that historical
painter might we'll immortalize, had on
been fortunately present to witness it.
In little while he called up servan
frem his sleep to take his horse; spok
mournfully, by name, of several OF hi
friends who had fallen during the day, an
when candle had been lighted, invited m
alone into his tent, where, as soon as W
were seated, he remarked:
"We must return to Virginia. As man
of our poor wounded as possible must b
taken home. I have sent for you, becaus
your men are fresh, to guard the train
back to Virginia"
CoLoRED CHILDREN PROFICIENT L