Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1871-03-24
LEE AFTER THE BATTLE OF
GErFTsBURG


General (Confederate) J. D. Imboder
writes for the Galaxy an article on Lee
at Gettysburg, from which we take tht
following:
= When night closed upon the Crane
scene, our army was repulsed. Silence
and gloom pervaded our camp. Ne
knew that the day had gone against US,
but the extent of the disaster was no
known except in high quarters. The.
carnage of the day was reported to havs
been frightiul, but our army was not il
retreat, and we all surmised that with to
morTOws 5 dawn would come a renewal
of the struggle; and we knew that i.
such was the case those who had mol
been in the fight would have their full
share in the honors and the dangers o.
the next day. All felt and appreciated
the momentous cOnse quences of hnai
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 ouI
long war sometimes experienced before
great battle.
Few camp-fres enliveued the scene.
1t was a warm summer night, and the
weary soldiers were lying in groups on
occupied, discussing the events OF the
day, or watching that their horses did
not slraggle off in browsing around.-
About II o'clock horseman approach
ed and delivered a message from Cen
eral Lee, that he wished to see me I'M
medIately. / mounted at once, and.
ACCOMPANIED by Lieut. McPhail of my
staff, and guided by the courier, rodS
about two miles toward Getty sbuTg
where half a dozen small tents on the
roadside were pointed out as Gen. Lee ;
headquarters tor the night. He was not
there, but | was informed that | would
find hlm with Gen. A p. Hill, half a
mile further on. On reaching the place
indicated, fickering, solitary candle,
visible through the open front of a com.
mon tent, showed where Generals Lee
and Hill were seated on camp-stools.
with a county map spread up6n their
knees, and engaged in a low and earn
est conversation. They ceased speak.
ing as l approached. and after the oTdi-
nary salutauons Gen. Lee directed me
to 90 to his headquarters and wait for
him. He did not return until about /
O'Clock, when he came riding alone at a
slow walk, and evidently wrapped in
profound thought.
There was not even a 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 dlsmount. The effort to do so betray-
ed so much physical exhaustion that
stepped forward 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 equal.
Iy weary horse the TWO forming a slrik.
ing group, as motIonless as a statue
The moon shone full upon his massive
features, and revealed an expression d
sadness ! had never seen upon that fine
countenance before. in any of the vicis
STUDIES of the war through which he haC
passed. waited for him to speak unit
the silence became painful and embar
RAISING, when. to break it. and change
the current of his thoughts, remarkeC