How Close was a Confederate Victory?

Did two hundred yards, a patch of woods and a confederate flag caused the confederates to lose the battle for Little Round Top and possible the Battle of Gettysburg? This is one of those "what if" of the battle that could have changed the outcome of the battle.

Gen Robert E. Lee, Commander of the Army of Northern Virginia wanted to attack the Union's left flank on July 2, using units of the 1^st Corps, commanded by Gen James Longstreet. Gen Lee needed more information on the proposed attack area, so he sent Capt Johnston to reconnoiter the Union's left. Upon returning to Gen Lee, he reported that no one was on the Round Tops and the enemy's line did not extend to them. Why did not Capt Johnston encounter any Union troops? It is possible that just before he got to Little Round Top, the two brigades of Geary's division that was there departed to go to positions of Culps Hill.

Gen Longstreet received orders to attack up the Emmitsburg Road, so after a long time and a comedy of errors in trying to get into position to attack without being seen by the union signalmen on Little Round Top, Longstreet finally got into position. McLaws' Division was on the left with Hoods Division aligned on the right of McLaws. Each had two brigades in front and two in the rear with Gen Robertson's Texas Brigade connecting to McLaws' right, then Law's Alabama Brigade from left to right as follows, 4^th, 47^th,15^th, 44^th and 48^th Alabama regiments. Two hundreds yards behind both Gens Law and Robertson were four regiments of Gen Benning's Georgia Brigade. The 2^nd Georgia on the right with the 17^th, 20^th and 15^th extending the line northward. George "Tige" Anderson Brigade was behind and to the left of Robertson's Brigade. [1]

Meanwhile Gen Warren was trying to get troops to Little Round Top before the Confederate attack. He was able to get Col Strong Vincent's Brigade of four regiments to respond to Little Round Top. Colonel Vincent placed the 20^th Maine, commanded by Col Joshua L. Chamberlain with 360 men on the extreme left of the line, next was the 83^rd Pa, 44^th NY and the 16^th Mich. These troops arrived just minutes before the confederates attack.