Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 40.djvu/297

 Rh General Meade held a council of war near Williamsport on the 12th of July to consider whether he should attack General Lee in his position at Falling Waters. As to this we have the testimony of Major-General Warren, Chief of Engineers, before the Congressional Committee already referred to, (page 381). He said he never saw the principal corps commanders so unanimously in favor of not fighting as on that occasion, and Major General Sedgwick, (already quoted) says, (page 452) that "at a council of war July 12th all but two voted against attacking Lee."

Observe now that Lee's retreat was rendered necessary, not by the condition of his army, but by the necessity of replenishing the ammunition chests, which were all but exhausted (see Colonel Taylor). His retreat was slow and deliberate. He offered battle again for three days at Falling Waters, near Hagerstown, but although Meade had been heavily reinforced, and was strongly urged by Mr. Lincoln to attack and destroy General Lee, who stood at bay with a swollen river in his rear, he, with the assent of his council of war, again decided against making such an attack. It is a great mistake to suppose that the Confederate army was demoralized. I saw a good deal of different commands in the army during those ten days after the battle, and I can testify that they were full of fight and eager for an opportunity to redeem the mistakes made at Gettysburg. At length, on the night of the 13th of July, eleven days after the close of the battle, General Lee recrossed the river in the face of Meade's great army. And he effected his crossing with such success that his entire loss consisted of two guns, a few wagons, and some five hundred exhausted men.

Here let me quote the generous testimony of a Federal officer: "It is difficult to imagine a more discouraging situation than that in which General Lee found himself between July 4th and 14th. Decisively repulsed in battle and compelled to retreat, his communications were suddenly severed by the Destruction of his only bridge, and by floods at the fords.

"Yet it is clear that never once through those trying days did the commander or his men show any signs of demoralization. On the contrary, it is certain that they would have welcomed an