The 11th Massachusetts waited near the Rogers house, and one soldier passed the time by killing a snake he had found nearby. When bullets penetrated the house, a frightened kitten ran out and leapt onto an infantryman's shoulder. Seeley and Turnbull poured murderous artillery fire into Wilcox's advancing ranks, and one round exploded, cutting the brigadier's bridle reins, frightening his charger and killing a courier. Wilcox pressed on and dismounted at a worm fence 250 yards west of the road. When he climbed atop to examine the Federal position, a shell struck the fence and exploded 10 feet beyond, shaking the general and sending his other courier tumbling from his horse. He was badly bruised but not seriously wounded.

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Humphreys had earlier refused his left, four regiments under Colonel William Brewster, against the fury of McLaws' charge and requested that Hancock reinforce him with a brigade to repel this new assault. Atop Cemetery Ridge, Meade, Hancock and Gibbon watched Sickles' line buckle under the Rebel surge. Turning to Hancock, the Federal commander said: "Something must be done. Send a couple of regiments out in support of Humphreys." Without a word, Hancock glanced at Gibbon, who understood what he should do. He dispatched Colonel Arthur Devereaux's 19th Massachusetts to Humphreys' aid, instructing the colonel to take the 42nd New York, under Colonel James Mallon, with him. The men of both regiments had also watched Sickles' destruction, and Captain John Adams of the 19th Massachusetts commented to Lieutenant Sherman Robinson, "Someone must go and help them, Jack." At that moment the call to attention came, and Robinson aptly predicted, "We are in for it."

An aide led the men at the double-quick a quarter mile south down the ridge and had the regiments face right behind Humphreys' flank. Devereaux protested forming the men in such a dangerous position and wondered aloud what two regiments were likely to accomplish in the midst of the disintegrating Federal line, but the aide answered curtly and galloped into the smoke of battle.

Birney ordered Humphreys to withdraw and re-form his surviving soldiers on Cemetery Ridge. Although he wished to make a stand along Emmitsburg Road, the division commander complied. While Humphreys was overseeing the pullout, his horse suffered its eighth wound that day, and the general was thrown from the saddle. An aide offered his horse, but Humphreys refused when he realized that one of its legs was injured. Then a wounded orderly offered his mount and staggered away, never to be seen again.

Humphreys' artillery performed admirably in the hail of Rebel bullets, decimating the attacking line. Wilcox's left regiment, the 9th Alabama, managed to push the 11th Massachusetts back from the Rogers house, and the graycoats enjoyed a brief respite behind the house. Meanwhile, three of Wilcox's regimental commanders went down wounded, and the brigade, which had taken about 100 prisoners thus far, endured severe casualties.

Federal artillery continued shelling until the charging Confederates reached a small slope that offered cover. The infantrymen soon reappeared giving the Rebel yell, and the two Union batteries fired canister, withdrawing at the last possible moment as Turnbull fell wounded and a bullet struck Seeley in the chest. The 8th Alabama re-formed near the Trostle barn and fired a volley at Turnbull's battery, which was about 100 yards ahead, before Humphreys personally ordered the battery to retreat. So many horses were down that the cannoneers had to abandon four pieces, while infantrymen helped drag the other guns away.

Earlier, on Wilcox's left, Lang's Floridians had commenced their advance under fire from Turnbull's and Seeley's batteries and headed for the Union position between the Rogers house and the Codori barn. Lang had enlisted in the Confederate service as a private, risen to the rank of colonel and now led the brigade in its commander's absence. Advancing as ordered behind a strong skirmish line, Lang captured several cannons, although the Federals had managed to remove their horses and limbers. The Floridians reached a small rise near the base of Cemetery Ridge, and Lang allowed his men to pause for a few moments and catch their breath before thundering forward in a final assault.

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