The weekly Panola star. [volume] (Panola, Miss.) 1857-1881, 1871-04-08
Dc after TIE rrllle Of ofteIiy.burs.

D. .t WhINN ttt 'tfN NtN"N# t "A
.rle 900 lce 81 Ge'g .hY-t. from
Which $50 take iha Ginaiag
When night closrl upouthe grand
enr, oif army was rcpahcL S.I'
lepac aad gIo1n wvlel our
csmps W. kuep that lha day hfl
gene agaila't W., bat the ealcut "
Nh, dipHcr Was not known except
in high quartart The carnage of
the day was reported 70 have been
fdChthd. but our army was not in
retreat, and We all surmiscd that
with to-merrov dawn would come
q renewal of tlie struggle; aud We
know that it such wa theease those
wlo had not been in the fight would
have their full share in the honors
and the dangers of the next day.
M felt and appreciated the momcu-
tus consequences Of final dofcat or
victory on that great field. These
considerations made that, to Us, ono
OF those solemn and awful nights
that every one who fought through |
our long war sometimes cAperienc-
ed before great b tile.
Few camp fires enlvcnca the
scene. 1t WAS . warm summers
night, and the weary soldiers were
lying in g,ops on the luNrisnt
grass in the meadows We occupied,
discussing tho events Cf the day, or
watching that their horses did not
straggle or in browsing around.
About eleven o'clock a horseman
approached and delivered a message
rom General Lee, that he wished
to sec me Immediately. | mounted
at once, and, accompanied by Lieut..
McPhail, of my staff, and guided by
the courier, rode about two miles
toward Gettysburg, where half Q
!, DOZEN small tents on the roadside
were pointed out as General Lees
:, Headquarters for the night. il'
was not there, but | was informed
= that | would find him with Gen. A
r. lIill, half mile further on. o.
reaching the place indicated, a flick
= ering, solitary candle, visible throug'
i the open front Of . common tent
: showed where Generals Lee an
!, Till wero seated on camp-stool'
!, with q county map spread upo
" their knees, and engaged ip a 10
and earnest conversation. The
- - ceased speaking as | approached
and after the ordinary salutatior
General Lee directed me to go
t,o his headquarters and wait for hin
a. lie did not return until about OF
- o'clock, when he came riding alon
! az slow walk, and evidently wral
y Cd in profound thought.
- There was not even sentinel {
:, duty, and no one Of his staff W
= about. The moon was high In Il
y, y Heavens, shedding D food Of e
silver light, almost as bright as do
!. upon the scene. When hcapproac
: e. ed and saw US, he spoke, reined
:, his horse, and essayed to dismonl
!; The effort to do 50 betrayed SO mu
s. physical exhaustion that | stepp'
~ forward to assist him, but before
= reached him he had alighted. ]
- threw his arm across the saddle
: "A rest himself, fixing bis eyes up
~ y the ground, leaned in silence Up
,,,r - his equally weary horse; the t
u forming striking group, as n
Il. tiotiless as statue. The mo
y. o,.o shown full upon his massive featur
~ and revealed an expression OF 81
4 ness, I had never seen upon Il
. . fine countenance before, in any
l.1 the vicissitudcs Of the war throu
.aJ which he had passed. ! waited
81. him to speak until the silence beca'
y. painful and embarrassing, when
~ break if, ard change the current
q his thoughts. | remarked in 81
IL pathetic tone, and in allusion 70
nod fatigue.
nod eGcncral, this mas been q h'
re- day on yoH."
20 This attracted his attention.
,tcd looked up and replied nournfully
;te5 "Yes, It has been Il sad day to u
,,,ra and Immediately relapsel into
thoughtful mood and attitude.
!, ing unwillingagain TO intrudc "
~ ~. bis reflections, ] said no more.
IN !, Fer minute or two be sudde
'm ',.a straighteaed Up 70 big tull heit
H. and turning to me with more ;
ha,eI nation, energy and excitement
manner than | had ever seen IN
" before, he addressed me il 4 Y
tremulous with emotion, and sai'
y y, "General, never saw troops
pun have more magnificently than +
pas ett's Division Of Virgiiians did
'pon day in their grand charge upon