On the second day of the battle of Gettysburg, at 5:00 A.M. Union reinforcements arrived along Culp's Hill and Cemetery Ridge. At the same time, Confederate General Longstreet was preparing for an attack on the Union's left flank. Longstreet had two divisions at his command Hood and Mclaws, but they did not reach the beginning point until noon, and by that time the strategic situation had changed. Union General Dan Sickles, saw a peach orchard on higher ground about half a mile ahead of Cemetery Ridge. Without notifying headquarters he gave the order to advance the whole corps to the peach orchard. His men set up directly in front of the round tops which lay unoccupied. General Meade found out Sickles unorthodox maneuver. Meade explained that Sickles was a half in front of the main line, and that his corps are to small to hold such an expanded piece of territory. Sickle offered to retreat, but it was too late. At 4:00 P.M. General Meade ordered Generals Sykes, Sedgewick to support General Sickles. The timely arrival of Sykes corps to help protect the Round Tops saved the Union army from disaster. At the same time, Confederate General Hood was heavily engaged in war and was taking huge losses. Finding it more difficult, more Confederate troops are moved to the left flank to take the strategic Round Tops.

Their attacks on Sykes, Sickles, and Sedgewick sorrowfully failed. Further up the line, however, Confederate General Mclaws' division who came approximately a half an hour after Hoods recklessly smashes into Sykes, Sickles, and Sedgewick. Union troops in the Serfy Peach Orchard, fought Mclaws. Sickles now saw stupid, foolish, and senseless his forward move was. Though he was on higher ground he was isolated and separated from the rest of the army. Confederate Generals Semme, Barksdale, Wofford, and Kershew slowly sniffed their way and tried to gain control of Cemetery Ridge. Though Mclaws and Hoods division defeated Sickles and Sedgewick where they stood, there was no surrender and the attempts to capture Cemetery Ridge failed. At sunset, Confederate General Wright fought his way to the top of Cemetery Ridge, but no one supported him and his brigade. Much to Generals Sykes, Sedgewick, and Sickles surprise Wright surrendered, withdrawing to lower ground. As the sun disappeared and night fell, Confederates at a foothold at Culp's Hill, but nothing substantial.

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