Gettysburg What-If

I have to wonder what would have happened if Colonel William C. Oates' Alabamians had overcome the defense of Little Round Top by Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain and the 20th Maine on July 2nd, 1863?

My own personal belief is that any advantage gained by the 15th and 47th Alabama would have been temporary, because there were two Federal corps within striking distance of the hill...
 
I have to wonder what would have happened if Colonel William C. Oates' Alabamians had overcome the defense of Little Round Top by Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain and the 20th Maine on July 2nd, 1863?

My own personal belief is that any advantage gained by the 15th and 47th Alabama would have been temporary, because there were two Federal corps within striking distance of the hill...
First and foremost, when studying the Civil War anything Joshua Chamberlain or John Brown Gordon wrote needs a good amount of fact checking. Chamberlain's 20th Maine was not the only force present on Little Round Top; people seem to miss out on the presence of Strong Vincent's Brigade and the Texans and Alabamans fighting for the rest of Little Round Top. Arguably, O'Rourke's 140th New York played a role just as important as the 20th Maine in saving Little Round Top. Supposing that Strong Vincent was routed off Little Round Top, it is too late for the Confederates to really exploit any gains, especially with the arrival of Sedgwick's VI Corps. Little Round Top is useless as an artillery platform facing north, and the Confederates holding it would only amount to a battered brigade or two of infantry against relatively fresh VI Corps troops.
 
First and foremost, when studying the Civil War anything Joshua Chamberlain or John Brown Gordon wrote needs a good amount of fact checking. Chamberlain's 20th Maine was not the only force present on Little Round Top; people seem to miss out on the presence of Strong Vincent's Brigade and the Texans and Alabamans fighting for the rest of Little Round Top. Arguably, O'Rourke's 140th New York played a role just as important as the 20th Maine in saving Little Round Top. Supposing that Strong Vincent was routed off Little Round Top, it is too late for the Confederates to really exploit any gains, especially with the arrival of Sedgwick's VI Corps. Little Round Top is useless as an artillery platform facing north, and the Confederates holding it would only amount to a battered brigade or two of infantry against relatively fresh VI Corps troops.
I am quite aware of the part that the 83rd Pennsylvania, 44th New York and 16th Michigan played in the defense of Little Round Top
 
I am quite aware of the part that the 83rd Pennsylvania, 44th New York and 16th Michigan played in the defense of Little Round Top
I promptly apologize for assuming that you didn’t. I am used to listening to Chamberlain fanboys who blatantly ignore the rest of Vincent’s Brigade that I forgot some decorum.
 
I promptly apologize for assuming that you didn’t. I am used to listening to Chamberlain fanboys who blatantly ignore the rest of Vincent’s Brigade that I forgot some decorum.
That's quite alright.

Your point about the Confederates defending Little Round Top with a brigade or two of infantry against Sedgwick's VI Corps is well-taken; they would have been smashed.
 
That's quite alright.

Your point about the Confederates defending Little Round Top with a brigade or two of tired infantry against Sedgwick's VI Corps is well-taken; they would have been smashed.

Here's another Gettysburg "What If": What if Jeb Stuart had kept in contact with General Lee in the run-up to Gettysburg (htus providing him with proper intelligence of the Federal dispositions?
 
That's quite alright.

Your point about the Confederates defending Little Round Top with a brigade or two of tired infantry against Sedgwick's VI Corps is well-taken; they would have been smashed.

Here's another Gettysburg "What If": What if Jeb Stuart had kept in contact with General Lee in the run-up to Gettysburg (htus providing him with proper intelligence of the Federal dispositions?
Lee’s decisions would have definitely been altered had Stuart’s reports actually reached him. For example, Lee would have known when the Army of the Potomac had crossed the Potomac on June 26, giving Lee more time to concentrate his scattered army. I cannot say exactly how much would change without drawing up a timeline. The thing is, Stuart’s presence was not necessary for Lee to have had better intel on the Army of the Potomac. Stuart had left behind Jones’ and Robertson’s cavalry brigades for Lee. The problem was that Stuart ignored Robertson’s questionable performance at Brandy Station and left him in charge (by seniority), instead of sending the aggressive and competent Wade Hampton as Longstreet requested.
 
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