the long march from seminary ridge had left some of the southern units disorganized, and their commanders paused momentarily at plum run to reorganize. hancock led the ii corps brigade of col. george l. willard to meet barksdale's brigade as it moved toward the ridge. willard's new yorkers drove the mississippians back to emmitsburg road. barksdale was wounded in his left knee, followed by a cannonball to his left foot, and finally was hit by another bullet to his chest, knocking him off his horse. his troops were forced to leave him for dead on the field, and he died the next morning in a union field hospital. willard was also killed, and confederate guns drove back willard's men in turn.