I had forgotten about the wagon/artillery park behind Round Top tks.
A reconnaissance that morning by a single individual reported the Union line ended before Little Round Top (true at the time) and completely missed the advance of Sickles into the Peach Orchard.
The circuitous approach by Longstreet behind Seminary Ridge was necessary to preserve the element of surprise but went seriously wrong when the column lost its way and had to backtrack.
Once in position Longstreet insisted on waiting for the arrival of a favored Alabama regiment who had started out before dawn that morning from down by Chambersburg IIRC 25 miles away, they arrived at Gettysburg around one pm and were immediately sent around behind Seminary RidgeI believe these weary men were the ones sent against Little Round Top, having had little opportunity to refill their canteens beforehand.
Hood at the far right of the Confederate line was supposed to strike first, rolling up the Union left flank, to be followed by successive Confederate units to Hood’s left as the Union line folded. As luck would have it Hood was seriously wounded by an artillery round and out of action, nobody thought to inform his next of command.
Almost worked anyway, my own belief is that Sickles’ unauthorized deployment forward saved the day and the battle for the Union by breaking the momentum of the Confederate assault.
