What little advantage there may have been. The position occupied by Federal soldiers under Schurz and Barlow is low, flat and fairly devoid of cover. The left flank on the Mummasburg Road is commanded by Carter's batteries on Oak Hill, and the advanced angle of the right flank on Rock Creek could easily be enfiladed by Early's artillery. Moreover, Coster's Brigade along Rock Creek wasn't nearly strong enough to cover the exposed right, which fairly invited attack. XI Corps reserve on Cemetery Hill was too far to the rear to be of any real help to troops on this weak and unsteady line.

Far more intelligent students of military science than myself have examined this ground and condemned it. As I believe you suggested, this isn't a position a senior officer would have chosen by design.