As we passed through the streets, pale and frightened women came out and offered us coffee and food, and implored us not to abandon them.
Colonel Livingston of my staff, who had been sent on a message, came back to the Seminary, not knowing that we had left.

He says the enemy were advancing toward the crest very cautiously, evidently under the impression there was an ambuscade waiting for them there.
They were also forming against cavalry.
On the way I must have met an aide that Howard says he sent to me with orders to retreat, but I do not remember receiving any message of the kind.
I observe that Howard in his account of the battle claims to have handled the First and Eleventh Corps from 11 A.M.until 4 P.M.; but at 11 A.M.his corps was away back on the road, and did not arrive until about 1 P.M.
The map previously given on page 125 demonstrates that we were a mere advance guard of the army, and shows the impossibility of our defending Gettysburg for any length of time.
The First Corps was broken and defeated, but not dismayed.

There were but few left, but they showed the true spirit of soldiers.
They walked leisurely from the Seminary to the town, and did not run.

I remember seeing Hall's battery and the 6th Wisconsin regiment halt from time to time to face the enemy, and fire down the streets.
Both Doles and Ramsey claim to have had sharp encounters there.
Many of the Eleventh Corps, and part of Robinson's division, which had been far out, were captured in the attempt to reach Steinwehr's division on Cemetery Hill, which was the rallying point.
When I arrived there I found General Howard, surrounded by his staff, awaiting us at the main gate of the cemetery.

He made arrangements to hold the road which led up from the town, and which diverged to Baltimore and Taneytown, by directing me to post the First Corps on the left in the cemetery, while he assembled the Eleventh Corps on the right.