Lee waited for a Union counterattack, but the Union General Meade decided against pursuing Lee’s army. After the failed assault Lee and his army retreated back to the defensive line. Pickett’s men were caught from all sides and lost two-thirds of its men. The attack was failed, and Union army pushed back the confederates and gained a strong position. On the third and final day Lee made another bold move and sent an army of 12,500 men under the command of General Pickett to attack the Union defensive lines. Both sides suffered heavy losses but Union forces withstood. The attack was delayed because Longstreet did not get his men into position until 4 P.M. Lee rejected the advice of his second-in-command, James Longstreet and launched a furious attack against the Unions where they stood. Union numbers had swelled to 94,000 against 72,000 of Confederate army. As more and more troops from Union reinforcements began to arrive, the Union soldiers on the second day outnumbered the Confederates, and they established a strong position from Culp’s Hill to Cemetery Ridge. They were still reforming, and the confederate army led by Lee fought well and brought Union forces in a defensive position.
Both sides had incomplete forces however, Confederate forces outnumbered the Union troops on the first day. Initially, Lee ordered his army to not engage with Unions until all the army was together, but circumstances abandoned such strategies, and the battle was started on July 1, 1863.