At last, in our immediate front at 1 p.m., they're suddenly leaped from one of our cannons,

a single sharp, far-weaching sound, breaking the long continued silence and echoing along

the extended lines of battle.

All were now at a strained attention, then quickly followed another gun.

Friend and foe at once recognized that these were signal guns.

Then hundreds of cannon opened upon each other.

What a roar, how incessant!

The earth trembled under the mighty resound of cannon.

The air darkened with sulfurous clouds.

The whole valley is enveloped.

The sun, lately so glaring, is itself obscured.

Nothing can be seen but the flashing light leaping from the cannon's mouth, amidst

the surrounding smoke.

The air which was so silent and serene is now full of exploding and screaming shells

and shot.

Lieutenant J. F. Crocker, 9th Virginia infantry, Armisteads brigade, Pickett's division,

Long Street's Corps, Army of Northern Virginia.

Hey everyone, welcome to episode number 373 of our Civil War podcast, My Name is

Rich.

And I'm Tracy.

Hello y'all, thanks for tuning into the podcast.

As you guys all recall, at the end of the last show, the big Confederate artillery bombardment,

...