Just in front of where I was, the land was open, and as they were mostly dressed in

butternut-colored clothes, they had the appearance of a plowed field being crossed in mass formation

until they got within good fighting distance to our line, when they broke into line of

battle formation, three lines steep. Our line being only a skirmish line, that means five

paces between the men, we were obliged to fall back or be either killed or taken prisoner.

The enemy force in our front was at least 90 men to our one. Still, they noticed that there was

some opposition to their charge, for we were armed with breach loaders, and as we took the matter

very cool, many a brave southern threw up his arms and fell, but on they came shouting and yelling

their peculiar yell. Sergeant Wyman White, second US sharpshooters, Bernie's division, third corps.

Lieutenant Joe Smith, son of Captain Jack Smith, was killed. We had just climbed a stone fence

and crossed a branch of a little marsh. Lieutenant Smith had wet his handkerchief in the branch

and tied it around his head. It was extremely hot. It was about three o'clock in the afternoon,

and we had double-quicked across an open field for nearly 500 yards. He was killed in 20 feet of me,

just after we crossed the branch, shot through the head, the bullet passing through the folds of

his handkerchief on both sides. He was a splendid officer, and we miss him very much.

Private John C. West, fourth Texas, Robertson's Brigade, Hood's Division, Longstreet's Corps.

Hey everyone, thanks for tuning in to episode 348 of our Civil War podcast. I'm Rich.

And I'm Tracy. Hello, y'all. Welcome to the podcast. As you guys will recall, at the end of the last

episode, the big Confederate attack on the southern end of the Union line was just beginning.

On the afternoon of Thursday, July 2nd, 1863, the second day of the Battle of Gideysburg.

On the federal side, George Meade and Dan Sickles had just concluded their hasty conference

near the Peach orchard with Sickles asking if he should pull his men back to their original position,

...