This rocky hill at the southern end of Cemetery Ridge is a key feature of the battlefield and one of the most heavily visited sites in the park. Unlike the thickly wooded Big Round Top, this smaller hill had been partially cleared of trees a year or more prior to the battle. Strewn with loose rocks and large boulders, it offered a natural position from which to defend this important end of the Union line. Little Round Top had been manned by Union troops as early as the night of July 1. Yet, with the exception of a few soldiers from the Union army's Signal Corps, it remained largely unoccupied until late on the afternoon of July 2. From their signal station on the northern summit of Little Round Top, the flag wavers held a commanding view of the battlefield to the north and west. It was the occupants of this signal station who concerned General Longstreet as he marched his troops into position to attack the Union left that afternoon.

Swift action by Brigadier General Gouverneur K. Warren saved this key position. The chief engineer on General Meade's staff, Warren had been sent by Meade to survey the left flank of the army that afternoon, after Sickles' messages to headquarters regarding the Third Corps' position. Climbing to the summit of Little Round Top, Warren was aghast at what he saw- General Sickles had moved his entire corps out to the Devil's Den-Peach Orchard line, leaving this key hill unprotected. It was not only a good observation post, but a key anchor for the Union line on Cemetery Ridge. When southern batteries opened fire at 4 o'clock, Warren spotted Hood's Confederates as they emerged from the cover of Warfield Ridge, the direction of march toward the Round Tops. Realizing they could easily flank the Union positions at Devil's Den and capture Little Round Top, Warren encouraged the signal men to remain at their post and keep waving flags while an aide galloped off to find any Union troops he could locate to get them to the hill.

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