Robert E. Lee's enemy was in the hills and he meant to attack him there. In the Cemetery Ridge, from Little Round Top in the south to Cemetery Hill in the north, United States troops were reinforced and dug in. No matter. Longstreet could not dissuade Lee, who ordered the attack on this debatable terrain for July 2, early. Longstreet did not attack early; Longstreet attacked at this time. Longstreet attacked where Lee wanted him to, at the south Ridge, in front of Little Round Top. Longstreet attacked and overwhelmed the United States line. His troops burst through gaps and made for Little Round Top. Little Round Top was Little Bald Round Top at the time, completely uncovered by the U.S. On Longstreet's Alabamians came. A U.S. general noticed the situation and ordered a Maine regiment to the spot. On the Alabamians came, up Little Round Top. Desperate, point blank combat. His regiment nearly out of ammunition, Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain ordered his Maine troops to ditch gear and fix bayonets. Down Little Round Top the 20th Maine went, and down ahead of them went the startled 15th Alabama, who surrendered. Little Round Top remained in U.S. control.
In front of Little Round Top, in the Wheatfield, in the Peach Orchard, in Devil's Den the Confederates mauled the U.S. but were beaten back. On the north Ridge, CSA troops managed to summit Cemetery Hill but could not hold it against another bayonet charge by the USA. To the northeast the U.S. held Culp's Hill.
The United States held the hills.
The United States had held but that was not the lesson Robert E. Lee took from the second day's fighting. The lesson Lee took from the day's fighting was that his troops were superior warriors and had come so close. Lee ordered the same battle plan for July 3.
