By now a major general and senior corps commander, he heard rumors of his pending appointment to command of the Army of the Potomac. He rushed to Washington and in a meeting with Lincoln declared that he would not accept the post unless the usual strings from the capital were severed. Thus Meade ended up in command of the army and Reynolds was in charge of three corps on the first day at Gettysburg. With his command heavily outnumbered on the field, he realized that he had to reinforce the position being held by John Buford's troopers. While placing the first of his infantry in line he was instantly killed by a Confederate shot.
Accounts vary as to whether it was a stray bullet or one from a sharpshooter.
As the ambulance carrying his body passed by the troops advancing to the victory-which he had done so much to make possible it cast a pall of sadness over the regiments.