handled, losing many men and horses. Having three guns disabled, we
were ordered to withdraw, and while moving back we passed General Lee
and several of his staff, grouped on a little knoll near the road.
Having no definite orders where to go, our captain, seeing the
commanding general, halted us and rode over to get some instructions.
Some others and myself went along to see and hear. General Lee was
dismounted with some of his staff around him, a courier holding his
horse. Captain Poague, commanding our battery, the Rockbridge
Artillery, saluted, reported our condition, and asked for instructions.
The General, listening patiently looked at us--his eyes passing over
me without any sign of recognition--and then ordered Captain Poague
to take the most serviceable horses and men, man the uninjured gun, send
the disabled part of his command back to refit, and report to the front
for duty. As Poague turned to go, I went up to speak to my father.
When he found out who I was, he congratulated me on being well and
unhurt. I then said:

"General, are you going to send us in again?"

"Yes, my son," he replied, with a smile; "you all must do what you can
to help drive these people back."

This meeting between General Lee and his son has been told very often
and in many different ways, but the above is what I remember of the
circumstances.

He was much on foot during this part of the campaign, and moved about
either in an ambulance or on horseback, with a courier leading his
horse. The accident which temporarily disabled him happened before
he left Virginia. He had dismounted, and was sitting on a fallen log,