General Lee before the Battle of Gettysburg could have something like:
"One more battle and we'll take Washington. This will end this war and guarantee our freedom."
"One more battle to humiliate the Yankee forces. This will be easy."
General Lee after the Battle of Gettysburg could have said something like:
"That did not go as planned. If only I had had Stonewall Jackson with me."
"How did it all go wrong? We were supposed to win."
"We must regroup quickly so they do not take advantage of our situation."