Lee ordered a retreat to start after dark, with Longstreet's and Hill's corps and the artillery to use the pontoon bridge at Falling Waters and Ewell's corps to ford the river at Williamsport.
Lee beordrede, at tilbagetrækningen skulle begyndte efter mørkets frembrud, og at Longstreets og Hills korps samt artilleriet skulle bruge pontonbroen ved Falling Waters, og Ewells korps skulle vade over floden ved Williamsport.