Had Sickles not moved forward against his orders and formed the salient, and had Langstreets Corps moved up the Emmitsburg road from the south the ANV forces would have had to march south, then march north along the Emittsburg road with the entire Union position on their flank. This enfilading fire would have wreaked as much, if not more damage on Longstreets Corps. It must be remembered that the Texas and Alabama troops came within a hairs breadth of turning the Union flank at Little Round Top, only the tenacity and valor of the 20th Maine prevented this. In all the histories of Gettysburg which I have read nowhere is this movement up the Emmitsburg road mentioned. The intnt was always to turn the Union left flank and additionally, the peach orchard area is almost equidistant from both the round tops and seminary ridge. I have stood on that ground....and it is not good ground. It is exposed and would be difficult to resupply and defend.
When Lee sent his engineers out to reccointer the ground... Sickles hadn't advanced into the Peach Orchard...and Meade hadn't found it necessary to reinforce the line with 20,000 soldiers.
It's obvious that Lee told Longstreet to march up the Emmittsburg Road. He even corrected Longstreet when Longstreet tried to reposition McLaws division. Lee told Longstreet, “No, General, no; I want his position perpendicular to the Emmittsburg Road.”
In all the histories of Gettysburg which I have read nowhere is this movement up the Emmitsburg road mentioned.
Netherless, Lee told Longstreet to march up the Emmittsburg Road. Hood protested and that became the well known event entitled "Hood's Protest." The movie Gettysburg captures the protest very well. That just wasn't movie dramatics...
the peach orchard area is almost equidistant from both the round tops and seminary ridge. I have stood on that ground....and it is not good ground. It is exposed and would be difficult to resupply and defend.
Both General Lee and General Sickles disagree with you.