Severely outnumbered, Union troops purchased time for establishing defense on Cemetery Ridge with lives spent on Seminary Ridge. By 4:00 p.m. on July 1, 1863, the battered survivors of the Union 1st Corps rallied on Seminary Ridge for a final defensive stand west of the town. The strongest feature of the position was a semi-circular barricade created from worm fence constructed earlier in the day by troops from Brigadier General Gabriel Paul's brigade. The 151st Pennsylvania, as well as elements of the 142nd Pennsylvania, 24th Michigan and 19th Indiana manned the works located in this area.
During the ensuing attack a member of this unit recalled "there was a gun blaze every minute by the side of my face." Lt. Colonel George E. McFarland, the commander of the 151st, had his horse shot from under him during the fierce encounter. After repulsing several assaults, the Pennsylvanians were forced to retreat when the regiments on their left gave way. McFarland was shot in both legs near the Seminary. Carried into the building, he remained there until early September, the last patient to be discharged from this field hospital.
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