Major General Henry Slocum’s XII Corps could not reoccupy its former position on Culp’s Hill when it returned during the night of July 2 because of the advanced position of Maj. Gen. Edward Johnson’s Confederate division.
On the extreme right of the Federal line, Col. Silas Colgrove’s brigade occupied McAllister’s Woods just south of Spangler’s Spring. The 3rd Wisconsin formed Colgrove’s left wing, just behind and to the left of the 2nd Massachusetts. These two regiments faced northwest. The 13th New Jersey deployed on the right of the 2nd Massachusetts facing northeast toward Rock Creek. The 27th Indiana connected with the right of the 13th New Jersey, facing southeast toward McAllister’s Woods. The brigade cobbled together into three sides of a square. Its fifth regiment, the 107th New York, was sent to support Col. Archibald McDougall’s brigade forming along Baltimore Pike.1
McDougall deployed in a cornfield between Baltimore Pike and McAllister’s Woods southwest of Colgrove’s position. The brigade aligned from left to right as follows: 3rd Maryland – 145th New York – 20th Connecticut – 5th Connecticut – 46th Pennsylvania. The 123rd New York was in a slightly advanced position. During the early morning, the 20th Connecticut advanced to reconnoiter and possibly retake the lost breastworks.2
Just to the northwest, Brig. Gen. Henry Lockwood deployed his two regiments on either side of Lt. Sylvanus Rugg’s Battery F and Lt. David Kinzie’s Battery K, facing northeast on Baltimore Pike. The 1st Maryland Potomac Home Guard formed to the left of the guns near the Spangler House; the 150th New York formed to the right near the Lightner House.3
Colonel Charles Candy’s brigade formed northeast of the 1st Maryland Potomac Home Guard. Two regiments, the 5th Ohio on the left and the 147th Pennsylvania on the right, deployed along Spangler’s Lane behind a low stone wall. They faced southeast into an open field (later dubbed “Pardee Field” in honor of Col. Ario Pardee of the 147th Pennsylvania). The rest of the brigade marched northeast to form in a ravine behind Brig. Gen. George Greene’s line. The disposition of these four regiments (the 7th, 29th, and 66th Ohio and 28th Pennsylvania) is not precisely known.4
The 109th Pennsylvania of Brig. Gen. Thomas Kane’s brigade deployed on the left of the 5th Ohio, facing southeast at right angles to its original breastworks. The 29th Pennsylvania took up position to its left behind a stone fence. The 111th Pennsylvania formed as a reserve behind its sister regiments. Part of the brigade was in the“saddle” area between the upper and lower sections of Culp’s Hill.5
The final XII Corps brigade under Greene did not vacate the hill the night before, so it occupied roughly its original position. The 60th New York was on the left. The rest stretching to the right included; 78th New York – 102nd New York – 149th New York – 137th New York.6
Southern reinforcements arrived during the early morning hours of July 3 when two brigades from Maj. Gen. Robert Rodes’ Division and one from Maj. Gen. Jubal Early’s Division took up position behind Johnson’s men. Brigadier General Junius Daniel’s Brigade formed behind Brig. Gen. John M. Jones’ Brigade; Col. Edward O'Neal’s Brigade formed behind Brig. Gen. Francis Nicholls’ men. Brigadier General James Walker’s Stonewall Brigade had already formed behind Brig. Gen. George Steuart’s Brigade, and its 2nd Virginia occupied a stone wall across Spangler’s Meadow from Colgrove’s Federals. The exact deployment of these brigades is not known. Two Southern regiments from Brig. Gen. William “Extra Billy” Smith’s Brigade were also making their way to this sector. 7
Daniel’s Tarheels moved up from the northeast. The 43rd North Carolina occupied the left of the first line with its left flank at an angle to the 3rd North Carolina of Steuart’s line. The 45th North Carolina was on its right, followed by the small 2nd North Carolina Battalion. In the second line, the 32nd North Carolina formed behind the 43rd North Carolina, and the 53rd North Carolina behind the 45th North Carolina.8