orps to reinforce the outnumbered Confederate troops.The next day, July 2, Meade formed his forces in the shape of a horseshoe, moving westward from Culp's Hill and southward along Cemetery Ridge to the hills of Little Round Top and Round Top. The Confederates, on the other hand, were deployed in a long, thin, concave line, with Longstreet and Ewell on the flanks and Hill in the center(Lee 300).Lee, against the advice of Longstreet and despite the fact that he had no cavalry, resolved to attack the federal positions(Elson 31). Longstreet was unable to advance until late afternoon, allowing the federal troops to make preparations for the expected assault. General Abner Doubleday of the federal army strengthened his hold on Cemetery Hill(Kundhardt 12). The federals held Cemetery Ridge and Little Round Top, but Longstreet moved Confederate troops along Peach Orchard, driving the federals from their positions there. Although Ewell won part of Culp's Hill(Overview), he was unable to break the federal line there or on the eastern part of Cemetery Ridge(Elson 29). On the night of July 2, Meade held a council of war in which the decision was made not to retreat. On the third day of battle, the federals were secure in their positions and the Confederates had lost their offensive stance(Military). General Lee decided to mount an attack despite opposition from other Confederate generals. The offensive did not begin until after noon(Lee 304). Groups from three Confederate divisions (Overview), including the division led by Major General George E. Pickett, totaling fewer than 15,000 men (Elson 30), took part in a memorable charge on Cemetery Ridge (Three) against a withering barrage of federal artillery and musket fire. The attack is known as Pickett's Charge. Although the Confederate troops breached Meade's first line of defense, the strain on the Confederates proved too great, and they fell back, having lost over three-fourths of their force (Mili...
