As Sickles completed the forward movement from Little Round Top and the
area northward, his new line extended from the Peach Orchard
southeastward through the Wheatfield to Devil’s Den (see boulders
below). Longstreet’s attack on Little Round Top developed from the ridge
a mile westward. His brigades successively struck the entire Union line
from Devil’s Den to the Emmitsburg Road. The Confederates in a 4-hour
fight broke the entire Union line, and the remnants of Sickles’ corps
were forced to retreat to the rear of the Round Tops. The Confederates
gained possession of the west slope of Big Round Top, Devil’s Den, the
Wheatfield (the open ground surrounded by woods), and the Peach Orchard
(near the white buildings on the ridge). The quick action of General
Warren (see bronze figure to the north) in bringing troops to Little
Round Top saved the hill for the Union. The stone breastworks on the
slope of the hill were constructed during the night of July 2 as a
defense measure against further attack. Big Round Top, a quarter of a
mile southward, was heavily wooded at the time of the battle and could
not be used to advantage by either artillery or infantry.