The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1871-04-27

The moon shone full upon his massive
features, and revealed an expression cf
sadness had never seen upon that fine
countenance before, in any of the vicis.
situdes Of the war through which he
had passed. waited for him to speak
until the silence became painful and
embarrassing, when, to break it, and
change the current Of his thoughts, l
remarked, in sympathetic tone, and in
allusfon to his great fatigue:
General, this has been hard day on
you"
This attracted his attention. He look
ed up and replied, mournfully:
- Eyes, it has been sad, sad day to us,
and immediately relapsed into his
thoughtful mood and attitude. Being
unwilling again to intruie upon his re-
Elections, 1 said no more. After min
ute or two he suddenly Strengthened up
to his full height, and turning to me
with more. animation, energy, and ex~
element Of manner than l had ever
seen in him before, he addressed me in
voice trcmulous with emotion, and
said
"General, I never saw troops behave
more magEiicently than pickett's di-
vision Of Virginians did to day in their
grand charge upon the enemy. And if
they had been supported, as they were
to have been-but, for some reason not
yet explained TO me they were motive
would have, held the position they so
gloriously won at such q fearful loss of
noble lives, and the day would have
been ours"
After a moment he added in tone al
most Of agony:
"Too bad! Too bad OH! TOO
BADuw
Inever shall forget, as long rs | live,
his language, and his manner, ANA his
appearance, and expression Of mental
suffering. Altogether it was a scene
that historical painter might well i'm.
mortalize had one been fortunately pres
cnt to witness it.
In little while he called up servant
from his sleep to take his horse; spoke
nourhfully, by name, Of several of his
friends who had fallen during the day
and when a candle had been lighted in
vited me alone into his tent, where, as
soon as we were seated, he remarked to
me:
''We must return to Virginia. As
many of our poor wounded rs possible
must be taken home: l have sent for
you because your men are fresh, to
guard the trains back to Virginia. The
duty will be arduous, responsible, and
dangerous, for l am afraid you will be
harrassed 10y the enemy's cavalry. l
can spare you rs much artillery az you
require, but no other troops, as I shall
need all have to return 20 the Potomac
by different route from yours. All the
transportation and all the care Of the
wounded will be intrusted to you. You
will recross the mountain by the Cham
bersburg road and then proceed to Will
Transport by any route you may deem
best, without haltng. There rest and
feed your animals, then ford the river
and make no halt until you reach Win
chester, where l will again communi-
cate with you.
After good deal Of conversation, he
sent for his chiefs Of staff and ordered
them to have everything in readiness
for me to take command next morning,
remarking that the general instructions
be had given me would be sent to me
next day in writing. -.
As was about leaving to return to
my camp, he came out of his tent and
said to me in a low tone: II will place
in your hands, morrow, sealed
package for President Davis, which you
will retain in your own possession until
you are across the Potomac, when you
will detail trusty commissioned officer
to take it to Richmoned with all possi-
bic dispatch and deliver it to the Presi>
dent Immediately. l impress it upon
you that, whatever happens, this pack.
age must not fall into the hands of the
enemy. Ifyout utshould be captured, de-
stroy it,
On the morni1g of the ith my writ
ten instructions and the package for Mr..
Davis We're delivered to me. The gem
eral sent Me bur-gun fed batteries,
which, withimy own. gave me % to de-
fend TIE train with.
Here Gen. Imboden gives a graphic
description Of the terrible storm that set
In shortly aftennoon and made it i'm
possible for the column to move until
nearly dirk. 'Fhis lie follows bya thrill
ing sketch of the horrors of An ambu-
lance train, loaded with mangled sol
diers, moving over wretched roads in a
pitiless storm, s...s ..~.~s.r.s ~
He then says that daybreak on the
morning of the 9Th found the head of
our column at tGreencastle, II or Is miles
from the Potomac at Williamsport.
Here our apprehended troubles from the
union cavalry began. From the fields
and cross roads they attacked us in small
bodies, striking the column where there
were few or no guards, and creating
great confusion.
After good deal of harrassing and
lighting along the whole road, nearly
all the immense train reached Williams
port little after the middle of the day.
lhe town was taken possession of; all
the churches, school houses, ETC., were
converted into hospitals, and proving
insufficient, many OF the private house es
were occupied.
Our situation was frightful. We had
over 10000 animals and all the wagons
of Gen. Lees army Under o1,r charao