GDG- If Sickles had stayed put!

[Alan D. Brunelle]

Peggy Rock wrote:
> Esteemed GDG Member Contributes:
>
>
> Tom -
>
> Just a quick thought as I run out the door but if Sickles had stayed 
> where he belonged, his line could have been easily reinforced and with 
> his left anchored on LRT, I cannot imagine Longstreet would have 
> attacked up the ER as ordered.
>
> Regards,
> Peggy 
Were skirmishers "attack magnets" - meaning: did skirmish lines affect 
the trajectories of attacking units? We see all of Hood's division, and 
most of McLaw's division attack more easterly then what Marse Robert 
wanted them to do. Was it because of skirmishers from Big Round Top up 
to the Millerstown road (facing, predominantly, west) attracting attack 
columns? (There are, perhaps, other reasons - but I've always thought 
that a lot of the attacking by Longstreet's forces that afternoon was 
dictated by Lee's statement the day before(?) -  roughly paraphrased as: 
"The enemy is there, and I will strike him there." No one wanted enemy 
troops on their flank or in their rear.

If so, then if Sickle's is back between Cemetery Ridge and Little Round 
Top's ridge, then certainly there would be skirmishers (visible) out at 
least as far as Houck's ridge, and quite possible nearer to the 
Emmitsburg road. In which case, would it not be highly likely that 
Longstreet's forces would have tried the same sort of easterly attack?

Wondering/wandering...

Alan