Lee is working late into the night, sitting in a rocking chair to minimize the chest pain. The following day will be Independence Day, and Lee wonders if it is an omen for today's coming battle, a message from God. He doesn't even want to dream on the possibility of it being a Southern Independence Day.
Lee sits alone with his horse and ponders the choice of moving to better ground or staying here to fight to the end. He thinks about the choices he has made in his life. He struggles with what to do next. His thoughts are interrupted by Stuart's arrival.
Lee chastises Stuart with an icy voice, the father giving a hard lesson. He wants the spirit in the man saved, just reined in. Stuart responds with anger and insulted honor, offering to have a duel with the person questioning his actions and then offers to resign. Lee is hard and cuts him off, telling him there is no time for this display. But Lee is also melting. He feels pity as Stuart leaves and realizes Stuart will now be reckless to prove himself.
Venable, his aide, returns from visiting Ewell and reports that the camp is in confusion. Ewell couldn't get his corps into attack position until hours after Longstreet had started. Rodes never attacked, Early attacked at dusk, hours late, and then quit. Johnson managed to capture some trenches. Lee reflects on how Jackson would have handled this. He knows he can now only depend on Longstreet with Pickett's fresh Virginians.
Lee makes his most important decision quickly and doesn't think of the men who will die. He will attack with Longstreet and use Pickett's men to hit the middle of the Union line. It will be weak since the Union has reinforced the ends of its lines. He will send Stuart around to the rear of the Union line, to finish it off. With his plans made, Lee prays.
