ned by two surgeons from
the skeleton regiments, who treated me with the utmost kindness,
thinking, perhaps, from my clean white shirt, that I was an officer. An
hour later my gun came by, and I was put on a caisson and hauled around
for an hour or two more.

It was about this time that what was left of the battery was seen by
General Lee, and the interview between him and his son took place. To
give an idea of the condition of the battery, I quote from
"Recollections and Letters of General Lee," by R. E. Lee, Jr., page 77:

"As one of the Army of Northern Virginia I occasionally saw the
Commander-in-Chief, or passed the headquarters close enough to recognize
him and members of his staff; but a private soldier in Jackson's corps
did not have much time during that campaign for visiting, and until the
battle of Sharpsburg I had no opportunity of speaking to him. On that
occasion our battery had been severely 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 listened 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.' In a letter to Mrs. Lee,
General Lee says, 'I have not laid eyes on Rob since I saw him in the
battle of Sharpsburg, going in with a single gun of his, for the second
time, after his company had been withdrawn in consequence of three of
its guns having been disabled....'"

Held by a companion on the caisson, as it was driven toward our right,
jo