The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1871-05-10
Lee After Gettysburg.
"a SCENE THAT a HISTORICAL FAINTER
MIGHT WELL IMMoRrALIzE"


t5 $500
! When night closed upon the grand
scene, our army was repulsed. Silence
and gloom pervaded our camps. We
|. knew that the day had gone against us,
but the extent of the disaster was not
known except in high quarters. Tho
carnage of the day WAS reported 10
have been friglitfRl, but our army was
not in retreat, and VEAL surniised that
with TO morrow's dawn woald come Is
renewal OF the struggle and we knew
that ii sucl was the case tInse who had
not been in the fight would have their
full share in the l,onors and the dam
! gers of the next day. All felt and ap-
ipreciated the mUmentOus consequences
of final defeat or victory on chat great
field. These considerations made thar.
to MS, one of those solemn and awful
nights that every one who fought
through our long war sometimes ex-
perienced before n great battle.
Il Few camp-tiles eniiyencd the scene.
1t was warm summers night, and the
weary soldiers were lying in q oups on
the luxuriant grass Of the meadows VIC
occupied. discussing the events of the
day, or Watching that their horses did
not struggle off in browsing around
4 About IL o'clock horseman approach
ed and delivered message from Gen
eral Lee, that he wished to see me i'll
mediately. | mounted at once, and,
accompanied by Lieutenant McPhail,
of my staff, and guided by the courier.
rode about two miles towards Gettys-
burg, where half dozen small tents
on the roadside were pointed out as
i General Lees headquarters for the
night. He was not there, but WAS
informed that would find him with
General A. p. Hall, half u mile further
on. On reaching the place indicated, u
Pickering, solitary candle, visible
through the open front of a common
tent, showed where Generals Lee and
Hill were seated Oh camp stools, with
a county map spread upon their knees.
and engaged i. allow and earnest con-
versation. They ceased speaking as
approached, and, after the ordinary
salutations, General Lee directed mo
to 60 to his headquarters and wait for
: him: He did not return until about
: o'clock, when he came riding along at
a slow walk, and evidently wrapped in
profound thought.
There was not even q sentinel on
duty, and no one of his staff was about.
> The moon was high in the heavens,
shedding food of soft silvery light,
almost rs bright rs day, upon the scene.
. When lie approached and saw rs, he
: spoke, reined up his horse and essaye,l
to dismount. The effort to do so dis
! nj t,lt
, that stepped forward TO assist him,
bat before l reached him he had alight-
ed He threw lis arm across his sad
die to rest himself, and. fixing his eyes
upon the ground, leaned in silence upon
his equally weary horse, the two form-
ing striking gronp, as motibnless as u
statne. The moon shone full upon his
massive features, and revealed an ex-
preston of sadness had never scen
upon that fine countenance before. in
lany of the vicissitndes of the war
through which he had passed. wait
! ed for him to speak until the silence
became painful and embarrassing,
When, to break it and change the cur
Erent of his thoughts, / remarked in n
sympathetic tone, and in aliusion to
his great fatigue:
"General, this has been a hard day
on YOU" 9GB -
This attracted his attention. He
looked up and replied moarnfully:
'.Yes, it has been a sad, sad day to
u.s." and Immediately relapsed into his
thoughtful mood and attitude. Being
unwilling again to intrude upon his re-
fictitious, L said no more. After a
minute or two he suddenly straighten-
ed mp to his full height, and, tnrnipg
to me with more animation, energy.
and excitement of manner than had
ever seen in him before. he addressed
me III Il voice tremulous with emotion,
and said:
"General, never saw troops behave
more magnificently 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-bnt. for some reason not
yet fully explained tn me, they We're
Motive would have held the position
they SO glorionsly won Mt such fearful
l,ss of noble lives, and the day would
have been ours" H
, After moment he added in a tone
! almost of agony:
TOO bad! Too bad! Oh, too bad ~
] never shall forget as long as live
his language, and his manner, and his
appearance and expression of mental
suffering. Altogether it was scene
that a historical painter might wei i'm.
mortalize had one been fortunately
. present to witness it.
In little while he called mp SER
, want from his sleep to take his horse
EsEoke mournfuliy by name of several
Of his friends who had fallen during
the day, and when a candle had been
3 lighted invited me alone into his tent
r where, as soon as we were seated, he
remarked: ,a ~ t
"We must return to Virginia. As
!! many of orr poor wounded as possible
e must be taken home. have sent fo
you, because your mon are fresh. Il
: guard the trains back to Virginia.
{ II Exchange.