one of the little glades behind the breastworks, and holding a praying-meeting in the midst of bursting shells, he dismounted, took off his hat, and remained silently and devoutly listening until the earnest prayer was concluded.  A great revival was then going on in the army, and thousands were becoming professors of religion.  The fact may seem strange to those who have regarded Lee as only a West-Pointer and soldier, looking, like all soldiers, to military success; but the religious enthusiasm of his men in this autumn of 1863 probably gave him greater joy than any successes achieved over his Federal adversary.  Those who saw him on the lines at Mine Run will remember the composed satisfaction of his countenance.  An eye-witness recalls his mild face, as he rode along, accompanied by “Hill, in his drooping hat, simple and cordial; Early, laughing; Ewell, pale and haggard, but with a smile de bon coeur” [Footnote:  Journal of a staff-officer.] He was thus attended, sitting his horse upon a hill near the left of his line, when a staff officer rode up and informed him that the enemy were making a heavy demonstration against his extreme right.

“Infantry or cavalry?” he asked, with great calmness.

“Infantry, I think, general, from the appearance of the guns.  General Wilcox thinks so, and has sent a regiment of sharp-shooters to meet them.”

“Who commands the regiment?” asked General Lee; and it was to introduce this question that this trifle has been mentioned.  Lee knew his army man by man almost, and could judge of the probable result of the movement here announced to him by the name of the officer in command.

Finding that General Meade would not probably venture to assail him.  Lee determined, on the night of December 1st, to attack his adversary on the next morning.  His mildness on this night yielded to soldierly ardor, and he exclaimed: 

“They must be attacked! they must be attacked!”

His plan is said to have contemplated a movement of his right wing against the Federal left flank, for which the ground afforded great advantages.  All was ready for such a movement, and the orders are said to have been issued, when, as the dawn broke over the hills, the Federal camps were seen to be deserted.  General Meade had abandoned his campaign, and was in full retreat toward the Rapidan.

The army immediately moved in pursuit, with Lee leading the column.  The disappearance of the enemy was an astounding event to them, and they could scarcely realize it.  An entertaining illustration of this fact is found in the journal of a staff-officer, who was sent with an order to General Hampton.  “In looking for him,” says the writer, “I got far to our right, and in a hollow of the woods found a grand guard of the Eleventh Cavalry, with pickets and videttes out, gravely sitting their horses, and watching the wood-roads for the advance of an enemy who was then retreating across Ely’s Ford!” Stuart was pressing their rear with his cavalry, while the infantry were steadily advancing.  But the pursuit was vain.  General Meade had disappeared like a phantom, and was beyond pursuit, to the extreme regret and disappointment of General Lee, who halted his troops, in great discouragement, at Parker’s Store.