Hey everyone, welcome to the 365th episode of our Civil War Podcast.

My name is Rich.

And I'm Tracy.

Hello y'all.

Thanks for tuning into the podcast.

As we work our way through the fighting the took place on July 3rd at Gettysburg, we've

already looked at the action at Culp's Hill that morning and now, next, we're going to

move out to East Cavalry Field.

The Confederate Cavalry commander, Jeb Stewart, had arrived at Gettysburg the previous

day on the afternoon of July 2nd after his long ride around the Army of the Potomac.

Stewart arrived just in time to witness the climax of some combat at Brinkerhof's Ridge

on the far left flank of the Confederate Army, where federal horsemen from Greg's division

had pinned down the rebel infantry of the Stonewall Brigade, preventing them from participating

in the fighting for Culp's Hill that took place on the evening of the 2nd.

Stewart had spotted good ground for mounted operations, one ridge line to the east.

He also knew that Greg's troopers held the important handover and low-dutch road intersection,

blocking a direct route into the rear of the federal center.

Stewart realized that if he could defeat the Union Cavalry holding the intersection,

he could dash into the enemy rear and break havoc.

And so on July 3rd, Stewart's ambitious offensive thrust resulted in a giant clash of

horsemen on East Cavalry Field, featuring artillery doles, dismounted fighting, hand-to-hand

combat, and arguably their most dramatic cavalry charge and countercharge of the entire

...