The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1871-04-27
LEE AT GETTYSBURG.
General Imboden's Account of the
PENNSYLVANIA Invasion.

Gen. J. d. Imboden, cavalry leader
in the confederate service during our re-
cent civil war, contributes very inter
esting and very seasonable narrative Of
the rebellion, to the April GGiaay:
In 1868 l received long and conf.
Dental letter from Gen. Lee, informing
me Of his purpose to cross the Blue
Ridge from the Rapidan into the valley,
to capture Winchester and cross the Po-
tomac. He also ordered me to raid
along the Baltimore and Ohio railroad,
breaking up small posts, and destroying
bridges. which did. l afterward join
ed the main army, after many success
full skirmishes and small battles, on the
Sd of July. l belonged to no division or
corps in our army, and therefore on ar
irving ear Gettysburg about noon,
when the conflict was raging in all its
fury, reported directly to Gen. Lee for
orders, and was assigned a position to
aid in repelling any cavalry demonstra-
ton that might occur on his tiaDks or
rear. None being made, my little force
took no part in the battle. l then had
and a sixgun battery.
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. The
carnage of the day Was reported to have
been frightful, but our army was not in
retreat, and we all surmised that with
to- -ulorrow's dawn would come a renew
al Of the struggle; and we knew that If
such was the case those who had not
been in the fight would have their full
the next day. All felt and appreciated
the momentous consequences 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 fires enlivened the scene
IT was warm summers night, and the
weary soldiers were lying in groups on
the luXuriant grass Of the meadows we
occupied, discussing the events Of the
day or watching that their horses did
not straggle off in browsing around the
camp. ...4
About ! | o'clock horseman approach
ed and delivered message from Gen.
Lee, that he wished to see me immedi
ately. l mounted at once, and, accom-
panied by Lieut.. McPhaiI, of my staff,
and guided by the courier, rode abont
two miles toward Gettysburg, where
half dozen small tents Oh the roadside
were pointed out as Gen. Lees head
quarters for the night. He was not
there, but was informed that | would
find him with Gen. a. L. Hill half q
mile further on. On reaching the ! lace
indicated, Pickering, solitary candle,
visible through the open front of a COM
mon tent, showed where Gems. Lee and
Hill were seated on camp stools, with a
county map spread upon their knees,
and engaged in a low and earnest con
versation. They ceased speaking as !
approached, end, after the ordinary So,
lutations, Gen. Lee directed me to go to
his headquarters and wait for him. He
did not return until about l o'clock,
when he came riding alone at slow
walk and evidently wrapped In profound
thought.
There was not even sentinel Oh du-
ty, and no one Of his staff was about.
The moon was high in the heavens,
shedding flood of soft silvery light, al
most as bright as day, upon the scene.
When he approached and saw US, he
spoke, reined up his horse, aud essayed
to dismount. The effort to do so be-
trayed so much physical exhaustion that
stepped forward to assist him, but be-
fore I reached him he had alighted.
He tarew his arm across his saddle to