Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-03-31

were 1alSlned surprlnngly.liW we looked toi
gloom, and we found brightness; we had
imagitied turbid waters, and we found a
lake exquistely clear and delicately
blue; we expected perfect silence and an
unbroken waste, and we found the birds
singing sweetly among the tamarisks and
oleanders, which spring up wherever q
stream finds its way from the mountains
to mingle with the mysterious inland
Lee after the Battle of, Gettysburg.
/ General (Cohfederate) J. d. Imboden
writes for the Galaxy an article on Lee
at Gettysburg, from which we take the
following: .t....s y, vdD.s
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-morrow's dawn would come renewal
Of the struggle; 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 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-fres enlivened the scene.
1t was a 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 About
eleven o'clock a horseman approached
and delivered a message from General
Lee that he wished to see me imme-
diately. / motnted at once, and, ac-
companied by Lieutenant MePhail, of
my staff, and guided by the courier, rode
about two miles toward Gettysburg,
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 Gen. A. T. Hill, half
a mile further on. On reaching the place
indicated, a flickering, solitary candle,
visible through the open front of 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 con-
versation. They ceased speaking as !
approached, and after the ordinary salu-
tations General Lee directed me to 90 to
his headquarters and wait for him. He
did not return until about one O'Clock,
when he came riding along at a slow
walk, and evidently wrapped 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 food of soft silvery light, almost as
bright as day, upon the scene. When he
approached and saw us, he spoke, reined
up his horse, and essayed to dismount.
The effort to do so betrayed so much
physical exhaustion that / stepped for
ward to assist him, but before / reached
him he 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 striking group, as mo-
tionless as a statue. The moon shown
full upon his massive features, and re-
vealed an expression Of sadness j had
never seen upon that fine countenance
before in any of the vicissitudes of the
war through which. he had passed. Il
waited for him to speak until the silence
became painful and embarrassing, when
to break it, and change the current of
his thoughts, REMARKED in sympathetic
tone, and in allusiOn to his great fatigue:
. General, this has been hard day on
you"
This attracted his attention. lie looked
upland replied mournfully: F .aH
" Yes, it has been sad, sad day to Us,
and Immediately relapsed into his
mood and attitude. Being
again to intrude upon his re-
Aections, said no more. After a min
nte or two he suddenly straightened up
to his full hight, and turning TO me with |
more animation, energy and excitement |
of manner than | had ever seen in him
before, he addressed me in voice trem-
ulous with emotion, and said: -
General, | never saw troops behave |
more magnifcently than Picketts Div |
ision 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
fully explained to me, they were not we
would have held the position they so
won at such a fearful loss of
noble lives, and the day would have been
opfsg mHB -. ~ Ae
After a moment he added in q tone al
TOO badl Too badl Oh. too badr"
l never shall forget, as long as live,
his language, and his manner, and his
appearance and expression Of mental
suffering. Altogether it was a scene that
4 historical painter might well immor-
talEe, had one been fortunately present
10 witness it.
In little while he called up q servant
from his sleep to take his horse; spoke
by name, Of several of his
friends who had fallen during the day,
Ind, when candle had been lighted,
invited me alone into his tent, where, as
loon as we were seated, remarked:
1--WE must return to Virginia, As
many Of our poor wounded as possible
must be taken home. / have sent for
Tou, because your men are fresh, to
yuard the trains back to Virginia, i
Scotch Pride Illustrated.
First Gael Gust come ashore from the
ierrin' Fushin' y" Hoo's q wi you,
)onal? Haze ye ony news yonder1'
Second Gael" Ma, hear naething-
70. aye-thev were savin' Mac Callum