head off Stuart, and had a brisk encounter with Hampton's brigade at Hunterstown. He then moved to a point on the extreme left. Gregg stationed himself on the right. Johnson in his advance sent a detachment to reconnoitre Brinkerhoff's ridge, and Gregg met them and repulsed them.
When night ended the battle, it was hard to say on which side the advantage lay. Lee occupied a portion of Gulp's Hill; he had held Cemetery Hill and Little Round Top for a short time; he had routed the Unionists in the peach orchard, and these advantages he considered sufficient to warrant him in continuing the battle on the next day. Only seventeen of his brigades had been in action.
Although Meade had repulsed all attacks, his situation was still alarming. Forty-two of his fifty-two brigades had been engaged. He had lost over 20,000 men in the two days' fighting, and hundreds of men were straggling towards Baltimore. He looked forward with apprehension to the next day of battle, and made every preparation for retreat. He called a council of war, and it was decided to remain and defend the position.
The night was passed in reforming the lines and picking up the wounded. The 12th corps marched back from the right to its old position, to find it occupied by Stewart. Kane's brigade joined them. Shaler's and Neill's brigades were stationed on the extreme right on the east side of Rock Creek. Lockwood reinforced Williams. The 5th corps was placed on the left on the steep slopes of Great Round Top, and the disabled 3d was held in reserve. Caldwell's division was again stationed on the left of the 2d corps. Wadsworth was on Gulp's Hill, Robinson on Cemetery Hill. Stannard occupied the small wood where Perry had been driven out.
Lee made no change in his plan of battle. He intended to resume his tactics of the previous day—a double attack on both wings.
