After the battle.
In straggling groups the survivors of that charge gathered in rear of
Seminary Ridge, near the point from which they set out to
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do or die. It was a sad sight.
Most of them were bleeding; numbers of them were bathing their wounds in a little creek which ran along the valley, making its clear water run red, which others used to quench their burning thirst.
Some 300 or 400 men were there.
General George E. Pickett was mounted, and was talking to the men here and there.
Only two of the regiments had retained their colors, one of which was the 24th Virginia, and the color bearer, a tall mountaineer, named
Charles Belcher, was waving it, crying: ‘General, let us go at them again!’
Just about then
General James L. Kemper was carried into the crowd, and the latter came to a halt.
Then
General Lee was seen to ride up, and we, as was usual, wanted to know what he had to say, crowded around him.
General Pickett broke out into tears, while
General Lee rode up to him, and they shook hands.
General Lee spoke to
General Pickett in a slow and distinct manner.
Anyone could see that he, too, felt the repulse and slaughter of the division, whose remains he viewed.
