Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1871-03-31

All felt and appreciated the momcn-
tous consequences of final defeat or
victory on that great field. These con-
sideratiOns made that, to us, one of
those solemn and awful nights that
every one who fought through our long
war sometimes experienced before a
great battle.
Few camp-fires 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 ii O'Clock horseman approach
ed and delivered message from Cen
eral Lee, that he wished to see me i'm
mediately. | mounted at once and ac-
companied by Lieutenant McPhail, of
my staff, and guided by the courier,
rode about two miles toward Gettys-
burg 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 L would find him with
A. P. Hill, half mile further on.-
On reaching the place indicated. a
fiickering, solitary candle, visible
through the open front of a common
tent. showed where Generals Lee and
Hill were seated on camp-stools, with
county map spread upon their knees.
and engaged i'm low and earnest cor
versation. They ceased speaking as l
approached, and, after the ordinary
salutations, General Lee directed M
to 20 to his headquarters and wait for
h 10 oh
o'clock, when he came riding along It
a slow walk, and evidently wrapped i'm
pro 'ound thought.
There was not even sentinel on du-
ty, and 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
essaved to dismOunt. The effort to do
so displayed so much physical exhaus-
ton that l stepped forward to assist
him, but before | reached him he hal
alighted. He threw his arms across
his saddle to rest himself, and, fixing
his eyes upon the ground, leaned in ST.
lence upon his equally weary horse,
the two forming striking group as
motionless as a statue. The moon
shOne full upon his massive features.
and revealed an expression of sadnes
| had never seen upon that fine coun-
tenancG before, in any of the vicissi-
tudes Of the war through which he
passed. l waited for him to speak un-
til the silence became painful and en-
harrassing, when, to break it AMI
change the current of his thoughts, |
remarked in sympathetic tone, and
in allusiOn to great fatigue:
General, this has been a hard day
on YOU"
This attracted his attention. He
looked up and replied mOurnfully:
Yes, it has been sad, sad day to
u.s." ard Immediately relapsed into
his thoughtful mood and attitude. Be
ing unwilling again to intrude upon
b S reflections, said no more. After
a minute or two he suddenly straight
ened up to his full height. and, turn
ing to me with more animation, ener-
gy, and excitement of manner than /
bad ever seen in him before, he adj
dressed me in a voice tremulons witt
emotion, and said;
General, l never saw troops behave
more magnificently than Pickett's Di-
vision of Virginians did to-day in their
grand charge upon the enemy. And
had they been supported, as they were
to have been-but, for some reason not
yet fully explained to me, they were
Motive would have held the positio
they so gloriously won at sucn fear
less loss of the noble lives and the day
would have been ours"
After a moment he added in a tone
almost of agony:
"Too bad Too bad! Oh, too bad ~
l never shall forget as long as / live
his language, his manner. his appear
ance, and expression of mental suffer
ing. Altogether it was scene that e
historical painter might well immor-
taliZe had one been fortunately pres
ent to witness it.
In little while he called up SER
want from his sleep to take his horse;
spoke mournfully by name of several
of his friends who had fallen during
the day, and when candle had been
lighted invited me alone into his tent,
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. l have sent for
you, because your men are fresh, To-
guard the trains back to Virginia"