Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-03-28
Alexandria Gazette
Lee After Gettysburg.
[Gen. j. ID. Imboden in the Galax,

had gone against us, but the extent Of the dis
aster was not known except IN high quarters.
The carnage of the day was reported to have
been trightful, but our army Was not III retreat
and We all surmised that with tomorrow S
dawn would come renewal OF the struggle
and we knew that if such WAS the case those
who had not been in the flight would have
their full share in the honors aud the dangers
of the next day. All felt and appreciated the
momentous consequences OF final defeat or VIC
tory on that great field These considerations
made that, to us, one of those solemn aud aw-
full nights that every one who fought through
our long war sometimes experienced before u
great battle.
Few camp-fres enlivened the scene. 1t was
u warm summers night, and the weary sol
diers were lying III groups on the luxurlant
grass of the meadows we occupied discussing
the events Of the day, or watching th:t their
horses did not straggle off in browsing around;
About clock horseman approached and
delivered L message from General Lee, that he
wished to see me immediately. | mounted at
once, and, accompanied by Lieutenant Nc.
Phail, of my staff, and guided by the courier,
rode about two miles toward Gettysburg, where
half a dozen small tents on the road side were
pointed out as General Lees headquarters tor
the night He was not there, but ! was IN
l.
p. Hill half mile further on. On reaching
the place indicated, Il fickering solitary can
die, visible through the open front OF u com
mon tent, showed where Generals Lee and
Hill were seated OH camp stools, with county
map spread upon their knees and engaged in !
low and earnest conversation. They ceased
speaking as approached, and after. the or
dinary solutions, General Zee directed ME to
20 to his headquarters and wait for him. lie
did not return until about clock, when ne
came riding along at slow walk, and evident
ly wrapped in profound thought;
There was not even Il sentinel on duty, aud
no one of his staff was about The moon was
high in the heavens shedding a flood 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 diS-
mount. The effort to do so displayed SO much
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 "a a statue. The moon shone full upon
his massive features, and revealed an express
sion of sadness had never seen upon that line
countenancc before, in any OF the vlclssltudeS
Of the war through which he had passed. |
waited for him to speak until the silence be-
came painful and embarrassing, when, to break
it and change the current Of his thoughts, re-
marked in u sympathetic tone, and IN alluslon
to his great fatigue:
General this has been 4 hard day on you.
This attracted his attention. He looked up
and replied mourntully:
Yes, it has been sad, sad day to us, and
immediately relapsed into his thoug ghttu mood
and attitude Being Unwilling again tontrude
upon his reflections | said no more. After Il
minute or two he suddenly straightened up to
his full height, and turning to me with more
than had ever seen in him before, he address
ed me in q voice tremulous with emotion, and
said
General, never saw troops behave more
magni6cently than Pickett's Division of Fir-
ginians 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 rea-
son not yet fully explained to me, they were not
we would have held the position they 50
gloriously won at such fearful loss of noble
lives, and the day would have been ours.
After moment he added in 4 tone almost
of agony:
TOO bad Too bad Oh, too bad :,
[ never shall forget as long as live his Ian
guage, and his manner, and his appearance
and expression of mental suffering. Aitogeth-
er it was Il scene that historical painter might
we'll inmortalize had one been fortunately
present to witness 1t.
In little while he called up Il servant from
his sleep to take his horse; spoke mourntully
by name of several of his friends who had fall
len during the day, and when candle had
been lighted invited me alone into hisitent,
where, as soon as We were seated, he remarked:
I'VE must return to Virginia. As many OF
our poor wounded as possible must be taken
home. have sent for yoy, because yIour, men
are fresh, to guard the trains back to
Virginia. -.s..,1
FAYErrE MCMULLEN CHASING A RAILROAD
TRAIN.--The Farmyille Commonwealth con-
taius graphic and ludicrous account OF the
effort Of this gentlemen to run against steam.
Says the Commonwealth - =
"On Saturday last, an elderly gentleman
jumped off the western bound train as it drove
up to the depot at this place, and hurried
across the street in search Of 4 place where he
might obtain Il remedy for the nervous head
uche Having found the place, and while
waiting for the mixing Of the physic the whis-
tie blew and the train started. Recognizing
the demands of the situation, the old gentle
man event for it." The ensuing trial of
speed between steam power and muscle was
both entertaining and instructive. Bets nu
high, aud the large crowd witnessing the con-
test iuvoluntarily took sides. The race, how
ever, was continued toronly half mile, when
it became obvious that steam power was too toe
much for flesh and blood And it was with
some emotions of disappointment and sadness e,
that We beheld, towards the conclusion OF the
race, the old gentleman's coat tails gradually
leaving the level they had maintained IN the
earlier stages of the contest, and begin to
subside iuto their wonted perpendicular posi-,
tion, and himself finally fetch up, a halt,
while the train, gathering speed IN its pro
gress, dashed away, rattling at every motion
IN most tantalizing way, I've got your
trunk! I've got your trunk! I've. got
1 -.