"I took up that line because it enabled me to hold commanding ground," Major General Sickles would testify to the Committee on the Conduct of the War, "as they would have taken it if I had not occupied it in force." The Confederates would have turned the day "hopelessly against us."

At 1:00pm Sickles ordered the balance of his First Division forward. Under the command of Major General David Birney First Division's left rested on the Devil's Den then progressed east through the trees and the Wheatfield to the Peach Orchard. Birney posted Ward's brigade on the left, in support of Captain James Smith's Fourth New York Battery. Ward's line ran from the Devil's Den east through the Rose Woods to the southern edge of the Wheatfield. Next in line across the Wheatfield was Colonel Philip de Trobriand's Third Brigade. Covering the Wheatfield gap was Battery D of the First New York Light Artillery, under the command of Captain George Winslow. Taking the position starting with the Peach Orchard north along the Emmitsburg road to the Trosle Lane was Brigadier General Charles Graham's brigade.

Sickles also sent Humphery's division forward. They left their position on Cemetery Ridge and moved west to a location 300 yards short of the Emmitsburg Road north of the Trosle Lane. Humphery's Third Brigade was detached to act as a reserve for Birney's scattered division on the left of the Third Corps line.

Federal Major General Hancock commander of the Second Corps was watching from further down the line on Cemetery Ridge as Sickles' Corps went forward. Hancock resting with one knee on the ground and leaning on his sword said with a smile, "Wait a moment and you'll see them tumbling back." A little while later, he turned to Brigadier General John Caldwell, whose division Hancock was visiting and said quietly, "Caldwell, get your division ready."

Sickles sent Major Tremain of his staff to see Meade. Tremain told Meade of the results of Berdan's reconnaissance and of Third Corps need for more artillery. Meade did not seem to appreciate what that meant, but made additional batteries available from the Artillery Reserve. Tremain returned to Third Corps and reported the results of his interview with Meade and then rode up to the Peach Orchard. One of Longstreet's divisions under McLaws had obviously arrived on Seminary Ridge and was skirmishing with the blue soldiers in the Peach Orchard. Tremain could also see Hood's division crossing the Emmitsburg Road to the south. Tremain reported all he had seen while in the Peach Orchard to Sickles when he returned to Third Corps headquarters. Sickles once again sent him off to see Meade.

Meade response to Tremain's report was to ask Sickles to come to army headquarters. Tremain reported to Sickles that the request did not seem imperative and Sickles did not go since other matters on his front seemed more pressing. Soon an aide from Meade arrived again asking the Third Corps commander to come to headquarters. Sickles asked to be excused, saying that the enemy was in great force on his front. A short time later a third request arrived from Meade ordering Sickles to attend a meeting. This time he could not refuse.

Before Sickles arrived at the meeting General Warren announced that Third Corps was not in position. This surprised Meade and he ordered Fifth Corps to the left of the Federal line with orders to hold the left "at all hazards." Now that Federal Sixth Corps was now arriving after it's march of 35 miles, Sixth Corps would replace the Fifth as the army's reserve. As the meeting was breaking up Sickles and members of his staff thundered up. "I never saw General Meade so angry if I may so call it," a staff officer would recall, "He ordered General Sickles to retire his line to the position he had been instructed to take. This was done in a few sharp words." Old Snapping Turtle must have cooled off quickly because he told Sickles not to dismount but to return to his Corps as there was firing on his front and he was needed there.

Meade on a borrowed horse arrived at the Peach Orchard a short time later. Meade asked Sickles why he had not connected with the Second Corps as ordered. Sickles replied that he had taken the high ground between the Hancock and the enemy. "General Sickles, this is neutral ground, our guns command it was well as the enemy's. The very reason you cannot hold it applies to them." Sickles asked if he should withdraw from this salient, Meade thought a moment, "You cannot hold this position, but the enemy will not let you get away without a fight, and it may as well begin now as at anytime."