Daniel Sickles and Peach Orchard
At first, there was a Union line, but Daniel Sickles, in charge of the III Corps, decided to move his artillery batteries to a higher point farther out, at Peach Orchard. He presumably does this because he fears that the Confederate artillery may be able to position themselves there, and he does not want them to have the higher ground. This breaks the Union line, creating a weak spot, as well as putting Sickles' artillery in an untenable position.
However, this move helps to surprise the Confederate forces attempting to flank the Union position, as they had not expected to meet any Union troops at Peach Orchard. Sickles orders his batteries to fire, and pours canister and shell fire onto the forces trying to take Peach Orchard. This gives other Union forces the chance to prepare for the oncoming attack, as well as taking out many of the guns in the Confederate batteries.
Sickles' troops attempted to hold onto their position for several hours, but finally they were overwhelmed and were forced backwards. The III Corps was virtually destroyed as a combat unit in this battle, and Sickles's leg was amputated after it was shattered by a cannonball. Caldwell's division was destroyed in the Wheatfield. Anderson's division, coming from McLaws's left and starting forward around 6 p.m., reached the crest of Cemetery Ridge, but it could not hold the position in the face of counterattacks from the II Corps
The Wheatfield
Aerial View of the Wheatfield
The Wheatfield was a field of wheat in which the opposing armies shot at each from across the field. This was a place of unimaginable slaughter, with bullets flying thick. Here, the Union I Corps shot at enemy divisions. Also, the artillery shells and canisters caused many deaths as well. The deaths of so many caused this agricultural field to become hallowed and remembered as the scene of one of the worst pieces of fighting seen in the Civil War.