Rain poured over Seminary Ridge as both armies stared each other down. The ground turned red is rain beat on the wounds of soldiers waiting to fight. General Lee stood confident, but would back down later in the day.
General Lee and his army started their pathway back to Hagerstown near Williamsport, Maryland. The infantry marched all night through Chambersburg and Greencastle before reaching the Potomac River.
General Lee’s troops looked weary and exhausted. Their campaign had failed, and the direction of the war had changed. Less than 50,000 men made the trip still standing, including the wounded.
The men were without food for 36 hours, as General John Imboden stated: “their torn and bloody clothing, matted and hardened, was rasping the tender, inflamed, and still oozing wounds.” Troops shouted out horrendous words of pain, “My God, will no one have mercy and kill me?”
Citizens of the union ran out of their homes and cut spokes out of wagon wheels, grounding the army. The Confederates have a long way home, with no light in sight.
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