Simultaneous with this charge Doubleday relieved the Iron Brigade from its too advanced position, turned it quickly upon its centre, and, sweeping down toward the right, caught a considerable number of the men of Archer's brigade, including Archer himself, who had advanced over the run upon Cutler's front.
These successes were now rapidly followed by an opening out of the respective battle lines. The arrival of Pender's division of Hill's corps as well as of the advance of Ewell, gave the enemy great additional strength, which was not fully counterbalanced by the coming up of the remaining divisions of the First Corps; and the Federals, therefore, fought at a disadvantage. Having re-formed his right brigade, Wadsworth moved still farther toward the right, to confront the increased strength of the enemy on his front, in that direction. Meredith's men still were firmly holding the left, under a scathing fire, in which the Confederate artillery made sad work with the lion-hearted men of that Iron Brigade, when the division of Rowley (Doubleday's old division) was put into the fight. With a wild cheer the columns moved forward, and soon the wood and hillsides became one blaze of musketry, while the several division batteries, getting at work, answered the enemy's guns, shot for shot. The Federal left thus sustained for the time being held its ground.
On the right, Wadsworth was so pressed that the remaining division of the First Corps (Robinson's), then in reserve, on Seminary Ridge, was sent to his support - two brigades (Baxter's and Paul's) getting into position on Cutler's right, covering the Mummasburg road, along which Rodes's division of Ewell's corps was advancing. The enemy, pressing his brigades too far forward, met a stunning fire, which, by throwing back his right, uncovered his left. Observing this, by a happy movement the bulk of Lawton's brigade was captured by the two fresh Federal commands. This second success was followed by the appearance, still farther on the right, of Early's division of Ewell's corps, just arrived from York. With his fine artillery Early soon so worried the Federal right as to compel it to give ground.
General Howard (Eleventh Corps) reached the field at noon, and as ranking officer he assumed command. Leaving one division (Steinwehr's) in town to occupy Cemetery Hill, which he perceived was the key to the Gettysburg ground, he threw the two divisions of Barlow and Schurz, of the Eleventh Corps, to the extreme right to confront Early's evident flanking advance. Thus posted he covered both the Carlisle and Harrisburg roads. This left a thin line, or, rather, no line at all, for a short distance between the Mummasburg and Carlisle roads; and while Barlow and Schurz were holding Early in check, Rodes pressed his brigades into the exposed section of the field. Doubleday detected the dangerous gap and tried to close it, by ordering in his last reserve brigade. This stayed the threatened perforation of the Federal line, and all again promised well. The battle raged with savage fury from one end to the other. About 3 P.M. the Eleventh Corps divisions opposed to Early fell away before his tremendous artillery fire. This was followed by a charge, beginning from their left column, when the entire Federal right was driven in, bearing with it the right division of the First Corps, which up to that time had held Rodes firmly at bay.
The First Corps division of Wadsworth fell back to Seminary Ridge, in fighting order, but the division of Robinson, and the two Eleventh Corps divisions were driven into the town, too disordered to offer any resistance. Once in the town this disorder was rendered complete by the dispersion of commands through the several streets; and the enemy, enveloping the northwest section of the village, succeeded in capturing a large portion of the disorganized ranks - about five thousand prisoners [This number included all the wounded of the day, who had been borne to the town for care, as well as those left in the Seminary, too severely injured to be moved.] and three guns falling into Ewell's hands. Wadsworth, with Buford's ever-ready cavalry, held Seminary Ridge till its abandonment became necessary, when he moved off, with all his guns and the reserve artillery, to Cemetery Hill, which Howard's forethought had secured against all comers. The play of Steinwehr's guns upon Ewell's ranks warned him off, and the fight was ended - Buford's command facing the foe to the last.
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
– Hebrews 11:6