BY JOHN D. IMBODEN, BRIGADIER-GENERAL , C. S. A.
TOURING the Gettysburg campaign, my command—anL' independent brigade of cavalry—was engaged, by Gen-eral Lee’s confidential orders, in raids on the left flank ofhis advancing army, destroying railroad bridges and cut-ting the canal below Cumberland wherever I could—sothat I did not reach the field till noon of the last day’sbattle. I reported direct to General Lee for orders, andwas assigned a position to aid in repelling any cavalrydemonstration on his rear. None of a serious characterbeing made, my little force took no part in the battle, butwere merely spectators of the scene, which transcended ingrandeur any that I beheld in any other battle of the war.
When night closed the struggle, Lee’s army was re-pulsed. We all knew that the day had gone against us,but the full extent of the disaster was only known inhigh quarters. The carnage of the day was generallyunderstood to have been frightful, yet our army was not in retreat, and itwas surmised in camp that with to-morrow’s dawn would come a renewal ofthe struggle. All felt and appreciated the momentous consequences to thecause of Southern independence of final defeat or victory on that great field.
It was a warm summer’s night; there were few camp-fires, and the wearysoldiers were lying in groups on the luxuriant grass of the beautiful mead-ows, discussing the events of the day, speculating on the morrow, or watch-ing that our horses did not straggle off while browsing. About 11 o’clock ahorseman came to summon me to General Lee. I promptly mounted and,accompanied by Lieutenant George W. McPhail, an aide on my staff, andguided by the courier who brought the message, rode about two miles towardGettysburg to where half a dozen small tents were pointed out, a little wayfrom the roadside to our left, as General Lee’s headquarters for the night. Oninquiry I found that he was not there, but had gone to the headquarters ofGeneral A. P. Hill, about half a mile nearer to Gettysburg . When we reachedthe place indicated, a single flickering candle, visible from the road throughthe open front of a common wall-tent, exposed to view Generals Lee andHill seated on camp-stools with a map spread upon their knees. Dismount-ing, I approached on foot. After exchanging the ordinary salutations Gen-eral Lee directed me to go back to his headquarters and wait for him. I didso, but he did not make his appearance until about 1 o’clock, when he cameriding alone, at a slow walk, and evidently wrapped in profound thought.
When he arrived there was not even a sentinel on duty at his tent, and noone of his staff was awake. The moon was high in the clear sky and thesilent scene was unusually vivid. As he approached and saw us lying on the
CARRY ME BACK TO OLEVIRGINNY.”
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