Chapter 38: Day Four: The 4th of July

The following day heralds no celebrations of Independence on either side and no concessions. Mid-morning, under a white flag, Lee does send a request to exchange prisoners and those wounded, but Meade declines.

Lee knows full well that his army is very vulnerable being short on ammunition and food and needing to care for the many wounded. Overnight he prepares a meticulous plan for the dangerous retrograde retreat through Maryland to Virginia and, uncharacteristically, hands out his written orders in person.

The two sides stare at each other as a driving rain blankets the field in the afternoon.

Around nightfall, Cavalry General Daniel Imboden leads the first contingent of ambulance wagons due west through Cashtown and North Guilford to the Cumberland Valley. The bulk of the army drifts southwest on their way to Hagerstown.

Camp fires along Seminary Ridge are left burning to mask the departures, with Ewell’s men leaving last around 2:00AM.