There were intermittent rains all through the morning of 4
July, cooling and refreshing the tired troops of both armies.
By then Lee had pulled back Ewell's Corps and brought it into
line alongside Hill's, making a continuous front about 7,000
yards long from Oak Hill southwards along Seminary Ridge.
The last of the ammunition was served out and it was
discovered that the army had enough for one more day of
heavy fighting. Hoping Meade would attempt an attack, Lee
had his men dig rifle pits and trenches on the western
side—the reverse slope—of Seminary Ridge, under cover of
the woods. Meanwhile he laid plans for a retreat. That
morning he sent his supply train with its precious cargo of
wounded men and booty off under escort. One column, 17
miles long, went northwestwards through Cashtown, while a
shorter one went to the southwest through Fairfield. Lee held
his troops in the trenches all day, hoping Meade would strike.

Meade refused to attack, disregarding even Lincoln's polite
urgings that he do so. In the circumstances this was wise,
though he might perhaps have thrust a strong column to-
wards the mountains in an effort to canalize Lee's retreat.
Instead, Meade confined himself to some probes with cavalry
and infantry, while the army rested. Anticipating needs over
the next few days, he instructed Major General Darius Couch,
commanding the emergency volunteers and militia along the

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