In the early morning hours, Lee is struggling with chest pains and declining health. He has a strong sense of urgency in him to finish this war before his time, and that of the South, runs out. The attitudes of his men toward him show clearly. They view him with reverence and speak in hushed tones around him. Lee’s aide, Taylor, comes through as arrogant and condescending, something Lee knows, but gracefully chooses to overlook.
There are momentary reflections of Jackson’s death, and that others, such as Stuart, will die, too. Lee discusses the spy’s news with Taylor, though Taylor airily discounts it. Lee decides to send a search party for Stuart if he does not show up by evening.
Taylor continues to update Lee on things: complaints from local people; Hill’s lead division will go in to Gettysburg for shoes; Ewell is on his way; Hill discounts Pettigrew’s claim that Union cavalry are at Gettysburg. Lee, though, questions this last one and knows that if Union infantry is coming, cavalry would be first. He repeats his orders with emphasis: The enemy is not to be engaged until his whole army is concentrated.
Lee meets with aides Marshall and Venable. Marshall wants to court-martial Stuart, and Venable wants Lee to speak to General Pender about a letter he received from his wife, who feels he will die as God’s punishment for invading the North. Lee also meets with Longstreet to discuss strategy, and the two disagree on the course of action. Noting the foreign observers, Lee comments that there will be no help from those governments. They discuss their division leaders and disagree about what to do with the missing Stuart. Longstreet adds that his spy has confirmed the soldiers in Gettysburg are Union cavalry, not militia, something that disturbs Lee. Cavalry means Meade is coming, and fast. They are interrupted by the sounds of artillery. Lee rides off to see what’s happening.
