- Joined
- Jan 16, 2015
I thought it might be interesting to gather some perhaps lesser known or overlooked examples where participants quote General Robert E. Lee in their recollections of the battle. It provides a unique perspective of Lee in his own words (or rather a close approximation of his words based on the memory of the individual on the receiving end of the conversation). The times listed are approximate. Lee’s words are highlighted in bold; the rest of the conversation is abbreviated, inserted mainly to add context. Personally I most enjoy Lee’s comparatively gentle teaching moments with more junior subordinates, and his equipoise and leadership after the stinging repulse of his attack on July 3.
About 4:20 p.m., July 1, to Lieutenant Colonel John J. Garnett, commanding an artillery battalion: Lee asked if my guns would reach a large body of enemy troops in the distance. Informed they would, Lee said, “They seem to be moving towards the Emmitsburg Road, do they not?” “Place your batteries on Seminary Ridge and either disperse them of develop the purpose of their movement.” [John J. Garnett, Gettysburg: A Complete Historical Narrative of the Battle ...]
About 9 a.m., July 2, to Major William T. Poague, commanding an artillery battalion: Lee called Poague over to ask, “Have you seen General Longstreet or any of his troops anywhere in this neighborhood?” Poague replied he had not. “I wonder where General Longstreet can be?” [Gunner with Stonewall, Reminiscences of William Thomas Poague]
About 1 p.m., July 2, to Major William T. Poague: “Major, you have sent some rather vague information about a body of troops somewhere. Please tell me all you know about it.” Poague said they appeared to be an infantry column. “What troops are they, the enemy’s or ours?” Poague could not tell. “In what direction are they moving?” Poague could not say. “On what road are they?” Poague did not know. “Well, Major, what do you know?” Poague responded, “Only what I reported.” “It is very important while in enemy’s country that officers obtain all the information possible about the geography of the region and especially about the different roads. This can be gotten by inquiring of the citizens in the neighborhood. Their reports should be as full and definite as can be made.” [Gunner with Stonewall, Reminiscences of William Thomas Poague]
About 11 p.m., July 2, to Lieutenant General A. P. Hill, during a gathering at Lee’s headquarters: General J. E. B. Stuart had arrived, and when Lee heard the voice of A. P. Hill he moved through the crowd, shaking Hill by the hand and said, “It is all well, General, everything is all well.” [William H. Swallow, Early’s Division, Southern Bivouac, vol. IV, June 1885 – May 1886; Reprint, Broadfoot Publishing Company, 1993]
Morning, July 3, to Major George B. Gerald, 18th Mississippi: Lee rode up and asked, “What troops are these and who commands them?” Gerald answered the remnants of Barksdale’s brigade, and he commanded them. Lee pointed to the crest of a hill some 200 yards distant and slightly to the rear and said he was going to place 100 pieces of artillery there and for Gerald to position his men to prevent the artillery from being harassed by Federal infantry. [Judge G. B. Gerald, The Battle of Gettysburg, Waco Daily Times-Herald, July 3, 1913]
About 10 a.m., July 3, to Major James Dearing, commanding an artillery battalion: “My friend! This way is you please.” Dearing approached on horseback. “Ah! Major, excuse me; I thought you might be some countryman who had missed his way. Let me say to you and these young officers, that I am an old reconnoitering officer and have always found it best to go afoot, and not expose oneself needlessly.” [Gunner with Stonewall, Reminiscences of William Thomas Poague]
About 3:20 p.m., July 3, to Major William T. Poague: “How are you off for ammunition, Major.” Poague reported a dwindling supply but said six howitzers were coming up with full chests. “Ah, that’s well; we may need them.” [Gunner with Stonewall, Reminiscences of William Thomas Poague]
About 3:30 p.m., July 3, to soldiers returning from the failed infantry charge: “Men, go to the brook down there and rest and refresh yourselves.” [Gunner with Stonewall, Reminiscences of William Thomas Poague]
About 3:30 p.m., July 3, to soldiers returning from the failed infantry charge: “All this will come right in the end. We’ll talk it over afterwards; but in the meantime, all good men must rally. We want all good and true men just now.” [Col. Arthur Freemantle, Three Months in the Southern States: April-June 1863]
About 3:30 p.m., July 3, to British Colonel Arthur Fremantle, an observer with the army: “This has been a sad day for us, Colonel – a sad day; but we can’t always expect to gain victories.” [Col. Arthur Freemantle, Three Months in the Southern States: April-June 1863]
About 3:40 p.m., July 3, to a member of his staff who was whipping his horse because a nearby shell burst made it unruly: “Don’t whip him, Captain; don’t whip him. I’ve got just such another foolish horse myself, and whipping does no good.” [Col. Arthur Freemantle, Three Months in the Southern States: April-June 1863]
About 3:45 p.m., July 3, to Brigadier General Cadmus Wilcox, who exhibited distress following the repulse: “Never mind, General, all this has been my fault – it is I that have lost this fight, and you must help me out of it the best way you can.” [Col. Arthur Freemantle, Three Months in the Southern States: April-June 1863]
About 4:00 p.m., July 3, to Colonel Henry C. Cabell: Cabell approached saying, “These are my guns … we have no infantry support … are we in the right position?” Lee replied in a manner perfectly calm and collected, “Colonel Cabell, the day has gone contrary to our expectations, it is my fault, but the country requires every one now to do all and more than his duty; you are in the right place, hold it.” Bowing to me he rode off to the left. [Henry Coalter Cabell, Family Papers]
About 4:15 p.m., July 3, to men from Ross’ Battery who were cleaning up behind the lines: Lee sent a staff officer to speak with the group, thinking they were stragglers. After being informed otherwise, Lee rode up, saying “I now know who you are and hope there is no offense given.” Lee turned to one man and asked for a drink of water from his canteen; another handed Lee a new tin cup to use. [Felix R. Galloway, Ross’ Battery, Confederate Veteran, August 1913, p. 388]
About 5 p.m., July 3, to Colonel E. P. Alexander and his ordnance officer, Lieutenant Fred Colston, roughly 400 yards west of the Rogers house: A loud cheering arose in the enemy’s lines. Lee turned to Colston and said, “Ride forward and see what that cheering means.” Colston determined it was for a Union General. Lee said to Alexander, “I can understand what they have to cheer for, but I thought it might be my people.” [Frederick W. Colston, John Mercer Garnett Papers]
About 1 a.m., July 4, to Brigadier General John D. Imboden: When Imboden ventured a sympathetic comment to a weary Lee, he replied, “Yes, it has been a sad, sad day to us.” After a minute he said, “I never saw troops behave more magnificently than Pickett’s division of Virginians did today in that grand charge against the enemy. And if they had been supported as they were to have been, but for some reason not yet fully explained to me, were not – we would have held the position and the day would have been ours.” After a moment, he added, “Too bad! Too bad! Oh! Too bad!” Entering his tent, Lee said, “We must now return to Virginia. As many of our poor wounded as possible must be taken home. I have sent for you, because your men and horses are fresh and in good condition, to guard and conduct our train back to Virginia. The duty will be arduous, responsible and dangerous, for I am afraid you will be harassed by the enemy’s cavalry. How many men have you?” When told, Lee continued, “I can spare you as much artillery as you require, but no other troops, as I shall need all I have to return safely by a different and shorter route than yours. The batteries are generally short of ammunition, but you will meet a supply I have ordered from Winchester to Williamsport. Nearly all the transportation and the care of all the wounded will be intrusted to you. You will recross the mountain by the Chambersburg road, and then proceed to Willamsport by any route you deem best, and without a halt till you reach the river. Rest there long enough to feed your animals; then ford the river, and do not halt again till you reach Winchester, where I will again communicate with you.” After further extended discussion, as Imboden was preparing to depart, Lee said in an undertone, “I will place in your hands by a staff officer, tomorrow morning, a sealed package for President Davis, which you will retain in your possession till you are across the Potomac, when you will detail a reliable commissioned officer to take it to Richmond with all possible dispatch and deliver it into the President’s own hands. And I impress upon you that, whatever happens, this package must not fall into the hands of the enemy. If unfortunately you should be captured, destroy it at the first opportunity.” [John D. Imboden, The Confederate Retreat from Gettysburg, Battles and Leaders of the Civil War, vol. 3.]
At this hour, around 2 a.m., Lee was remarkably focused for a man of 56 years with a serious health condition who had been actively directing a major battle for at least the past 22 hours.
About 4:20 p.m., July 1, to Lieutenant Colonel John J. Garnett, commanding an artillery battalion: Lee asked if my guns would reach a large body of enemy troops in the distance. Informed they would, Lee said, “They seem to be moving towards the Emmitsburg Road, do they not?” “Place your batteries on Seminary Ridge and either disperse them of develop the purpose of their movement.” [John J. Garnett, Gettysburg: A Complete Historical Narrative of the Battle ...]
About 9 a.m., July 2, to Major William T. Poague, commanding an artillery battalion: Lee called Poague over to ask, “Have you seen General Longstreet or any of his troops anywhere in this neighborhood?” Poague replied he had not. “I wonder where General Longstreet can be?” [Gunner with Stonewall, Reminiscences of William Thomas Poague]
About 1 p.m., July 2, to Major William T. Poague: “Major, you have sent some rather vague information about a body of troops somewhere. Please tell me all you know about it.” Poague said they appeared to be an infantry column. “What troops are they, the enemy’s or ours?” Poague could not tell. “In what direction are they moving?” Poague could not say. “On what road are they?” Poague did not know. “Well, Major, what do you know?” Poague responded, “Only what I reported.” “It is very important while in enemy’s country that officers obtain all the information possible about the geography of the region and especially about the different roads. This can be gotten by inquiring of the citizens in the neighborhood. Their reports should be as full and definite as can be made.” [Gunner with Stonewall, Reminiscences of William Thomas Poague]
About 11 p.m., July 2, to Lieutenant General A. P. Hill, during a gathering at Lee’s headquarters: General J. E. B. Stuart had arrived, and when Lee heard the voice of A. P. Hill he moved through the crowd, shaking Hill by the hand and said, “It is all well, General, everything is all well.” [William H. Swallow, Early’s Division, Southern Bivouac, vol. IV, June 1885 – May 1886; Reprint, Broadfoot Publishing Company, 1993]
Morning, July 3, to Major George B. Gerald, 18th Mississippi: Lee rode up and asked, “What troops are these and who commands them?” Gerald answered the remnants of Barksdale’s brigade, and he commanded them. Lee pointed to the crest of a hill some 200 yards distant and slightly to the rear and said he was going to place 100 pieces of artillery there and for Gerald to position his men to prevent the artillery from being harassed by Federal infantry. [Judge G. B. Gerald, The Battle of Gettysburg, Waco Daily Times-Herald, July 3, 1913]
About 10 a.m., July 3, to Major James Dearing, commanding an artillery battalion: “My friend! This way is you please.” Dearing approached on horseback. “Ah! Major, excuse me; I thought you might be some countryman who had missed his way. Let me say to you and these young officers, that I am an old reconnoitering officer and have always found it best to go afoot, and not expose oneself needlessly.” [Gunner with Stonewall, Reminiscences of William Thomas Poague]
About 3:20 p.m., July 3, to Major William T. Poague: “How are you off for ammunition, Major.” Poague reported a dwindling supply but said six howitzers were coming up with full chests. “Ah, that’s well; we may need them.” [Gunner with Stonewall, Reminiscences of William Thomas Poague]
About 3:30 p.m., July 3, to soldiers returning from the failed infantry charge: “Men, go to the brook down there and rest and refresh yourselves.” [Gunner with Stonewall, Reminiscences of William Thomas Poague]
About 3:30 p.m., July 3, to soldiers returning from the failed infantry charge: “All this will come right in the end. We’ll talk it over afterwards; but in the meantime, all good men must rally. We want all good and true men just now.” [Col. Arthur Freemantle, Three Months in the Southern States: April-June 1863]
About 3:30 p.m., July 3, to British Colonel Arthur Fremantle, an observer with the army: “This has been a sad day for us, Colonel – a sad day; but we can’t always expect to gain victories.” [Col. Arthur Freemantle, Three Months in the Southern States: April-June 1863]
About 3:40 p.m., July 3, to a member of his staff who was whipping his horse because a nearby shell burst made it unruly: “Don’t whip him, Captain; don’t whip him. I’ve got just such another foolish horse myself, and whipping does no good.” [Col. Arthur Freemantle, Three Months in the Southern States: April-June 1863]
About 3:45 p.m., July 3, to Brigadier General Cadmus Wilcox, who exhibited distress following the repulse: “Never mind, General, all this has been my fault – it is I that have lost this fight, and you must help me out of it the best way you can.” [Col. Arthur Freemantle, Three Months in the Southern States: April-June 1863]
About 4:00 p.m., July 3, to Colonel Henry C. Cabell: Cabell approached saying, “These are my guns … we have no infantry support … are we in the right position?” Lee replied in a manner perfectly calm and collected, “Colonel Cabell, the day has gone contrary to our expectations, it is my fault, but the country requires every one now to do all and more than his duty; you are in the right place, hold it.” Bowing to me he rode off to the left. [Henry Coalter Cabell, Family Papers]
About 4:15 p.m., July 3, to men from Ross’ Battery who were cleaning up behind the lines: Lee sent a staff officer to speak with the group, thinking they were stragglers. After being informed otherwise, Lee rode up, saying “I now know who you are and hope there is no offense given.” Lee turned to one man and asked for a drink of water from his canteen; another handed Lee a new tin cup to use. [Felix R. Galloway, Ross’ Battery, Confederate Veteran, August 1913, p. 388]
About 5 p.m., July 3, to Colonel E. P. Alexander and his ordnance officer, Lieutenant Fred Colston, roughly 400 yards west of the Rogers house: A loud cheering arose in the enemy’s lines. Lee turned to Colston and said, “Ride forward and see what that cheering means.” Colston determined it was for a Union General. Lee said to Alexander, “I can understand what they have to cheer for, but I thought it might be my people.” [Frederick W. Colston, John Mercer Garnett Papers]
About 1 a.m., July 4, to Brigadier General John D. Imboden: When Imboden ventured a sympathetic comment to a weary Lee, he replied, “Yes, it has been a sad, sad day to us.” After a minute he said, “I never saw troops behave more magnificently than Pickett’s division of Virginians did today in that grand charge against the enemy. And if they had been supported as they were to have been, but for some reason not yet fully explained to me, were not – we would have held the position and the day would have been ours.” After a moment, he added, “Too bad! Too bad! Oh! Too bad!” Entering his tent, Lee said, “We must now return to Virginia. As many of our poor wounded as possible must be taken home. I have sent for you, because your men and horses are fresh and in good condition, to guard and conduct our train back to Virginia. The duty will be arduous, responsible and dangerous, for I am afraid you will be harassed by the enemy’s cavalry. How many men have you?” When told, Lee continued, “I can spare you as much artillery as you require, but no other troops, as I shall need all I have to return safely by a different and shorter route than yours. The batteries are generally short of ammunition, but you will meet a supply I have ordered from Winchester to Williamsport. Nearly all the transportation and the care of all the wounded will be intrusted to you. You will recross the mountain by the Chambersburg road, and then proceed to Willamsport by any route you deem best, and without a halt till you reach the river. Rest there long enough to feed your animals; then ford the river, and do not halt again till you reach Winchester, where I will again communicate with you.” After further extended discussion, as Imboden was preparing to depart, Lee said in an undertone, “I will place in your hands by a staff officer, tomorrow morning, a sealed package for President Davis, which you will retain in your possession till you are across the Potomac, when you will detail a reliable commissioned officer to take it to Richmond with all possible dispatch and deliver it into the President’s own hands. And I impress upon you that, whatever happens, this package must not fall into the hands of the enemy. If unfortunately you should be captured, destroy it at the first opportunity.” [John D. Imboden, The Confederate Retreat from Gettysburg, Battles and Leaders of the Civil War, vol. 3.]
At this hour, around 2 a.m., Lee was remarkably focused for a man of 56 years with a serious health condition who had been actively directing a major battle for at least the past 22 hours.
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