Mistakes

Of The Second Day

1. Lee not allowing Longstreet's divisions to sweep around the south behind and over the Round Tops and attack the Union from behind. Doing so would have given the Confederates a distinct advantage of the hills, and sweeping in from behind the Union line to attack from the rear along with the frontal assault to choke them off.

This maneuver could have ended the war in the Confederate favor by possibly wiping out the main body of the Union army and possibly capturing Meade himself.

2. The Confederate failure to capture Culp's Hill , which would have given them a position on high ground to shell the Union line from the rear.

3. Sickles moving his entire corps forward out of his intended position, exposing both flanks of the Union line, and leaving Little Round Top undefended. Had he been in his ordered position, the slaughter of his troops would not have occurred, and the Confederates may not have taken the ground they were to defend.

4. Longstreet, taking all day to get his divisions into position, could have begun his attack earlier. Doing so would have led to the capture of Little Round Top, and the Union troops were not in a ready position either, therefore possibly defeating the front line of the Union, instead of letting them retreat back to the fortified Cemetery Ridge.