Buford sits in the seminary’s cupola and watches dawn break. Then he hears the guns of attacking Rebel infantry begin. He sends a message to Reynolds requesting relief. A while later, he hears the Rebel yell, which is swallowed by the sound of answering Union cannon. The assault dies away.
That morning finds Buford still awaiting relief, hearing the infamous scream of attacking Rebels. There is nothing he can do but send for help once again.
Buford talks with a commander, who informs him that, while they have only scrapped with a Rebel division, the entire Rebel army will likely have arrived by afternoon. Buford sends another message to Reynolds and strengthens his line. He knows that these brigades cannot hold off the Confederates for long, and that if the brigades and the high ground are both lost, it will be all his fault. The outcome will all depend on how quickly Reynolds arrives and how quickly Lee moves. Soon, a bigger attack begins.
Buford can’t restrain his pessimism as he continues to wait; as he had reflected earlier, the outcome indeed turns on faith.
Just as Buford is beginning to consider withdrawal, he looks to the south and sees Reynolds coming at a gallop, two corps of fresh infantry coming behind him. Reynolds joins Buford in the Seminary cupola, where Buford, relieved and weary, explains the brigades’ position. He sees that Reynolds shares his vision for holding the high ground. Reynolds sends messengers to all his commanders and to General Meade to join him with all haste. Buford is surprised to find that he feels relief at the appearance of higher command, rather than his usual resentment.
Reynolds’s appearance with his corps comes just in the nick of time, relieving Buford and reinforcing his line at a critical moment. Had Reynolds not arrived when he did, the Union would likely have lost the precious high ground. For once, Buford’s faith has been vindicated.
Buford and Reynolds ride out to place the troops. Against the Confederates’ 15,000, they can put almost 20,000 in the field within half an hour. Reynolds praises Buford’s selection of ground, and Buford feels honored by the high compliment. A short time later, Buford looks for Reynolds and sees his horse bare-backed. When Buford gets there, he finds Reynolds already dead, having been wounded in the head. Buford is grieved at the loss of a good man. The men continue to carry out Reynolds’ orders, fighting without a commander.
Buford is further vindicated by Reynolds’s approval of his selection of ground. It seems as if things have turned decisively in the Union’s favor. Yet Reynolds is quickly killed, undercutting Buford’s short-lived optimism.