Hancock, despite being wounded in the repulse of Pickett’s assault, urged Meade to launch the 20,000 fresh reserves of the 5th and 6th Corps in pursuit of Lee’s broken brigades. But a heavy load of responsibility weighed on Meade’s shoulders. He had been in command only six days. For three of them his army had been fighting for the nation’s life, as he saw the matter, and had narrowly saved it. Meade could not yet know how badly the enemy was hurt, or that their artillery was low on ammunition. He did know that Stuart was loose in his rear,
