How Close was a Confederate Victory?

Did two hundred yards, a patch of woods and a confederate flag caused the confederates to lose the battle for Little Round Top and possible the Battle of Gettysburg? This is one of those "what if" of the battle that could have changed the outcome of the battle.

Gen Robert E. Lee, Commander of the Army of Northern Virginia wanted to attack the Union's left flank on July 2, using units of the 1^st Corps, commanded by Gen James Longstreet. Gen Lee needed more information on the proposed attack area, so he sent Capt Johnston to reconnoiter the Union's left. Upon returning to Gen Lee, he reported that no one was on the Round Tops and the enemy's line did not extend to them. Why did not Capt Johnston encounter any Union troops? It is possible that just before he got to Little Round Top, the two brigades of Geary's division that was there departed to go to positions of Culps Hill.

Gen Longstreet received orders to attack up the Emmitsburg Road, so after a long time and a comedy of errors in trying to get into position to attack without being seen by the union signalmen on Little Round Top, Longstreet finally got into position. McLaws' Division was on the left with Hoods Division aligned on the right of McLaws. Each had two brigades in front and two in the rear with Gen Robertson's Texas Brigade connecting to McLaws' right, then Law's Alabama Brigade from left to right as follows, 4^th, 47^th,15^th, 44^th and 48^th Alabama regiments. Two hundreds yards behind both Gens Law and Robertson were four regiments of Gen Benning's Georgia Brigade. The 2^nd Georgia on the right with the 17^th, 20^th and 15^th extending the line northward. George "Tige" Anderson Brigade was behind and to the left of Robertson's Brigade. [1]

Meanwhile Gen Warren was trying to get troops to Little Round Top before the Confederate attack. He was able to get Col Strong Vincent's Brigade of four regiments to respond to Little Round Top. Colonel Vincent placed the 20^th Maine, commanded by Col Joshua L. Chamberlain with 360 men on the extreme left of the line, next was the 83^rd Pa, 44^th NY and the 16^th Mich. These troops arrived just minutes before the confederates attack.

Our focus is on the extreme left of the Union Line, the fight between the 15^th Alabama, 644 men, Colonel William C. Oates commanding and the 20^th Maine. As the confederate attack began, the 15^th Alabama was in the center of the battle line, but as the advance continued Gen Law moved the two end regiments, 44^th & 48^th Alabama by the left flank across the rear of the battle line to try and take out the artillery battery (Smith's) that was firing on infantry from the Devil's Den area.. Now the 15^th and 47^th Alabama became the extreme right flank of the Confederate line.

Colonel Oates and his regiment encountered a detachment of the 2^nd United States Sharpshooters that was posted behind a stone fence losing some men while pushing them back. Part of the sharpshooters retreated towards Devils Den and part went up Big Round Top. Gen Law gave the order for Colonel Oates to left-wheel his regiment and move in the direction of the heights on his left, but because of the group of sharpshooters that went up Big Round Top and also that the 47^th Alabama Regiment was crowding the 15^th making the movement difficult, he continued straight up Big Round Top. Col Oates stated "In the event that I had obeyed the order, I should have come in contact with the regiment on my left, and also have exposed my right flank to an enfilading fire from the enemy".[2]

The 15^th and 47^th continued up wooded slope of Big Round Top and the 44^th & 48^th continue to attack North towards Devil's Den and the Gorge. Gen Benning's Brigade was in line of battle with orders to follow Laws Brigade about 200 yards behind. By the time Benning's Georgia Brigade emerged from the woods the attack was well under way. Gen Benning states "Our own first line also became visible advancing about 400 yards in our front. The part of it in our front I took to be Law's brigade, and so I followed it. In truth, it was Robertson's, Law's being farther to the right. This I did not discover until late in the fight-a wood on the right concealing from me most of Law's brigade. My line continued to follow the first line, halting once or twice to preserve its interval. At length I saw that the first line would not be able to carry the peak alone, so I advanced without halting again".[3]

By this time the action became hot and heavy on the Union's left between the 20^th Maine and the 15^th Alabama and portion of the 47^th Alabama regiment. The numbers were in favor of the confederates, 360 Maine men to 644 Alabama men, but Col Chamberlain had the advantage of the high ground, terrain, iron determination and better tactics[4]. Also the Alabama troops had marched 25 miles, without food or water and went into battle before being able to rest or get water. They had to climb the steep slopes of Big Round Top and then attack down and up to a well posted enemy.

The fight continued until both sides were exhausted and low on bullets and only a last ditch effort by Chamberlain and the men of the 20^th Maine and Company B that he had posted before the battle saved the day for the Union line. Company B was sent out as skirmishers and rose up along with some of the sharpshooters and fired into the flank of the confederates causing confusion and a retreat up Big Round Top.

Now to the "what if". What if Gen Benning's fresh Brigade of Georgia troops were able to see the 15^th and 47^th Alabama and followed them up Big Round Top? Given the condition of the 20^th Maine and that fact that the rest of the Union line on Little Round Top was heavily engaged, would not a fresh brigade hitting the 20^th Maine turned the tide and rolled up the Union's left flank? As it was, the support of Benning's Georgia Brigade did turn the fight around Houch's Ridge and Devil's Den to a Confederate victory, would not that same be true on Little Round Top.

With the defeat of the 20^th Maine, the rest of the Union line on Little Round Top would have been rolled up. Given the action all around the area, Devil's Den, Wheatfield and Peach Orchard, I don't believe support could have got to Little Round Top in time to save the day. The only question is could the confederates been able to continue to roll up the line and cause a retreat by the whole Union Army or did Gen Meade have enough reserves to reform his line and make a stand?

So a patch of woods and a confederate flag (carried by Robinson's Texas Brigade) could of very well have been a contributing factor in the outcome of the Battle of Gettysburg, interesting isn't it?

[1] Devil's Den, A History and Guide by Garry E. Adelman & Timothy H. Smith

[2] John Bachelder's History of the Battle of Gettysburg - Transcribed, Edited and Annotated by David L & Audrey J. Ladd

[3] John Bachelder's History of the Battle of Gettysburg - Transcribed, Edited and Annotated by David L & Audrey J. Ladd

[4] The Gettysburg Campaign - A Study in Command by Edwin B. Coddington