a rush, the fugitives scattered in every direction, but nearly 4,000 were taken prisoners. General Schimmelpfennig hid himself under a load of wood and so managed to escape. Ewell found two cannon abandoned in the streets.
The national troops were now in a very critical situation. With 16,500 men against 22,000 Confederates, they had made a good fight. They had now only five thousand fighting men left. Five thousand had been taken prisoners, four thousand were dead or wounded, and the rest were scattered. The latter hurried to Taneytown and Westminster, and greatly discouraged the regiments which were moving up from that direction.
The Union forces were thus routed and disorganized, and in actual danger of complete extermination when a new factor appeared on the field. Hancock arrived at four o'clock. Meade, on learning of the serious nature of the battle, had hurried him forward to take the place of the slain Reynolds. He assumed command and at once sought to restore order. The 11th corps reformed around Von Steinwehr on Cemetery Hill. Wadsworth was stationed on Culp's Hill and Doubleday on the left. These manœuvres consumed an hour. Lee might easily have prevented it, but he was cautious and waited for the rest of his army to arrive. He could see that Howard was well intrenched on Cemetery Hill, and supposed that reinforcements must have arrived. In truth they did not arrive until 5.15 P.M., when Sickles and Birney came up from Emmettsburg with a division of the 3d corps. Graham and Ward's brigades followed, and soon afterwards Slocum appeared with the 12th corps. Slocum started to occupy Wolf's Hill, but gave up the idea when he learned that the enemy held Gettysburg. Geary's division arrived at Cemetery Hill at 5.30.
Slocum assumed the command, and Hancock went to Taneytown to inform Meade of the situation. Meade had already determined to concentrate his army between
