Lee began to make preparations at once and started his trains on the morning of the 4th.

By night Rodes' division, which followed them, was in bivouac two miles west of Fairfield.

It was a difficult task to retreat burdened with 4,000 prisoners, and a train fifteen miles long, in the presence of a victorious enemy, but it was successfully accomplished as regards his main body.

The roads, too, were bad and much cut up by the rain.
While standing on Little Round Top Meade was annoyed at the fire of a rebel battery posted on an eminence beyond the wheat-field, about a thousand yards distant.

He inquired what troops those were stationed along the stone fence which bounded the hither side of the wheat-field.