"I never on any occasion during the four years of the war saw a group of officers and gentlemen more deeply distressed. They were literally bowed down with grief. All of them were in tears. One, but whose side I rode for some distance, was himself severely hurt, but he made no allusion to his wound, and I do not believe he felt it. It was not alone the general they admired who had been shot down--it was, rather, the man they loved."
Source: Four Years Under Marse Robert, by Robert Stiles
Commentary
The effect of Longstreet's wounding in the Wilderness on not just the army as a unit, but the individuals in that army cannot be downplayed. Some of Longstreet's detractors in later years tried to diminish the depth of feeling between Lee and Longstreet by pointing out that Lee made no grandiose statement regarding the loss of Longstreet as he had with Jackson. It's important to remember in this instance, though, that with Longstreet, Lee witnessed his being taken from the field, blood pouring from his throat and lips. With Jackson, he only heard of it. The emotional impact of the former is infinitely more intense than the latter, and sometimes, under such conditions, there are no words.
Lee, upon seeing Longstreet's ambulance pass by, merely stared, almost in disbelief, and rubbed his hands together in despair. But Lee had more immediate matters to attend to. Grant was still trying to destroy him.
The following is an account of the effect of the wounding, written by one who witnessed it.