In which we look at the big Confederate artillery bombardment preceding Pickett's Charge and the Federal response.

In which we look at what George Meade was up to the morning of July 3, and also talk about the remarkable series of messages between Longstreet and EP Alexander prior to the start of the big Confederate artillery bombardment.

In which we talk about the preparations for the big Confederate artillery bombardment that would precede Pickett's Charge, and look at the Federal defenders on Cemetery Ridge who would be on the receiving end of that shelling.

In which we look at the nine Confederate infantry brigades that made up the attacking force for Pickett's Charge.

In which we start to look at Pickett's Charge.

In which we look at the fighting at East Cavalry Field on July 3, 1863.

In which there's an announcement and a mystery.

In which we get Jeb Stuart to Gettysburg and finish setting the stage for the fighting that took place at East Cavalry Field on July 3, 1863.

In which we start to set the stage for the fighting that took place on July 3 at East Cavalry Field by taking a look at what Jeb Stuart was up to before he (finally) arrived at Gettysburg.

In which we return to Culp's Hill to look at the rest of the fighting there on the morning of July 3, as the Confederates struggled to make a dent in the strong Federal defenses.

In which the fighting for Culp's Hill is renewed on the morning of July 3, and Robert E Lee is forced to go with Plan B for Longstreet's part of the day's Confederate attacks.

In which we look at the care of the wounded after the fighting on July 2, and we also see what a few of the civilians caught up in the battle were thinking about their predicament.

In which we review the second's days fighting, look at Lee's decision to continue attacking the Federals the next day, and talk about Meade's council of war on the night of July 2.

In which the Confederates attack the keystone of the Federal defensive line and there's a fierce, confused struggle for Cemetery Hill in the darkness on the evening of July 2.

In which the Confederate soldiers of Allegheny Johnson's division attack Culp's Hill on July 2.

In which Ewell starts his "demonstration" on July 2nd not with an infantry attack, but with an artillery barrage.

In which we wonder if it really was "the best three hours' fighting ever done by any troops on any battlefield."

In which we look at the Confederate attack on, and Federal defense of, Cemetery Ridge on the evening of July 2, 1863.

In which Sickles' Peach Orchard salient collapses.

In which we set the stage for the collapse of the Federals' Peach Orchard salient.

In which the bloody battle for the Wheatfield on July 2 reaches its conclusion.

In which Caldwell's division clears the Wheatfield.

In which Anderson's Georgia brigade makes the first Confederate attack on the Wheatfield on July 2, 1863.

In which Little Round Top remains firmly in Federal hands.

In which the epic fight for Little Round Top kicks off on July 2, 1863.

In which the Confederate attack finally begins on the afternoon of July 2, 1863, and after fierce fighting the Federal defenders are pushed off of Devil's Den. 

In which there's some command confusion on the Confederate side before the attack on the Union left on the afternoon of July 2, 1863.

In which we look at whether Dan Sickles actually saved the day for the Federals on the second day of the Battle of Gettysburg...

In which Dan Sickles makes his move.

In which we continue to look at Dan Sickles' story, and the background to the bad blood between him and George Meade.

In which we look at one of the most controversial figures associated with the story of the Battle of Gettysburg- Dan Sickles.

In which we look at Longstreet's flank march on July 2 and its surprise ending.

In which we look at how Robert E Lee's plan to attack the Union left on July 2 was based on flawed intelligence.

In which we look at Robert E Lee's decision to continue the battle on July 2, 1863 by attacking the Federals.

In which we look at the Federals' fishhook line of defense, and discuss the benefits of operating on interior lines.

In which it's all Meade, all the time.

In which the Confederates score an incomplete victory on the first day of the battle, as the Federals retain control of the key high ground south of town.

In which the Federals consolidate their position on Cemetery Hill and await a renewed Confederate attack.

In which the Federal First Corps line on Seminary Ridge collapses, and Union soldiers from the Eleventh Corps and First Corps retreat through the streets of Gettysburg to Cemetery Hill. 

In which the Federal First Corps line on McPherson's Ridge, south of the Chambersburg Pike, collapses as Heth's Confederates advance on the afternoon of July 1, 1863.

In which we turn our attention to the First Corps portion of the Federal line and start to talk about its collapse on the afternoon of July 1, 1863.

In which the Federal Eleventh Corps line north of Gettysburg collapses when it is attacked by Ewell's Confederates.

In which OO Howard and the Eleventh Corps arrive at Gettysburg.

In which Robert E Lee arrives on the battlefield at Gettysburg on July 1, 1863.

In which we make a special announcement.

In which Rodes' assault on the Federal First Corps line continues, with Daniel's Brigade moving to the attack.

In which we look at the beginning of Rodes' attack from Oak Hill and the destruction of Iverson's Brigade.

In which we see more units from both armies arrive on the field- Howard's Eleventh Corps for the Federals and Rodes' Division of Ewell's Corps for the Confederates.

In which we look at what Robert E Lee was up to on July 1, 1863.

In which we look at George Meade's activities June 28-July 1.

In which we look at the fight at the railroad cut on the morning of July 1, 1863.

In which the entire right side of the Federal line, north of the Chambersburg Pike, collapses when attacked by Joe Davis's brigade of Confederates.

In which the hard-charging Iron Brigade drives Archer's Confederates out of the Herbst woodlot.

In which we see the first Federal infantry arrive on the battlefield, just in the nick of time.

In which we do some myth-busting, looking at stories about shoes, Spencers, and sharpshooters.

In which we examine John Reynolds' key role in bringing about a battle at Gettysburg.

In which we evaluate John Buford's performance in carrying out his covering force action on the morning of July 1, 1863 outside Gettysburg.

In which John Buford buys time for the Federal infantry to arrive on the scene.

In which Harry Heth runs into real, live Yankee soldiers on the road to Gettysburg.

In which we find out it was the roads (of course) that brought the armies to Gettysburg. Plus, John Buford!

In which the armies move toward a collision.

In which turn our attention back to the Army of the Potomac and find that Hooker is out and Meade is in.

In which the Confederates push deeper into Pennsylvania as Ewell's Corps approaches the Susquehanna River on two fronts (at Wrightsville and by way of Carlisle).

In which Jubal Early visits Gettysburg on June 26, 1863.

In which the Confederates plunder their way up the Cumberland Valley after entering Pennsylvania.

In which we find Hooker marking time below the Potomac, Lee orders Ewell to move north into Pennsylvania, and we wonder Jeb Stuart was allowed to ride off, away from the Army of Northern Virginia.

In which Hooker finally moves the Army of the Potomac... we look at several cavalry clashes in the Loudon Valley... and Tracy sees how many different ways she can pronounce "Susquehanna."

In which we cover the action at Second Winchester (and Stephenson's Depot) on June 13-15, 1863.

In which we get Ewell into the Valley and set the stage for the Second Battle of Winchester.

In which we finish up our discussion of the Battle of Brandy Station, which took place on June 9, 1863.

In which we look at the start of the action at the Battle of Brandy Station on June 9, 1863.

In which Joe Hooker decides to do something about the concentration of rebel cavalry under Jeb Stuart at Culpeper.

In which the armies start to move. Well, one of the armies starts to move.

In which we turn our attention to the Army of the Potomac and the troubles in its high command after the fiasco at Chancellorsville.

In which we look at Robert E Lee's reorganization of the Army of Northern Virginia prior to the start of the Gettysburg Campaign.

In which we look at Robert E Lee's reasons for launching an offensive strike north into Pennsylvania in the summer of 1863. 

In which we look at the May 15, 1863 conference in Richmond attended by Jefferson Davis, James Seddon, and Robert E Lee.

In which we kick-off the Gettysburg story arc.

In which Sherman scares off Johnston, Gardner surrenders Port Hudson to Banks, and we wrap-up the Vicksburg story arc.

In which we see John Pemberton surrender Vicksburg to Ulysses S Grant on July 4, 1863, ending the forty-seven day siege.

In which we look at Confederate efforts to aid Pemberton and the besieged Vicksburg garrison.

In which we look at Federal siege operations at Vicksburg, May-June 1863.

In which we look at Grant's failed attacks on Vicksburg on May 19 & 22, 1863.

In which we look at the decisive clash of the Vicksburg Campaign- the Battle of Champion Hill, which took place on May 16, 1863.

In which we slip in a plug for joining the Strawfoot Brigade while sharing the story of how Benjamin Grierson saved William Tecumseh Sherman's life at Fort Sill in 1871. 

In which the Confederates lose the Battle of Raymond, lose the Mississippi state capital of Jackson, and Pemberton- against his own better judgement- moves out to confront Grant.

In which we see Grant's Army of the Tennessee set out on its epic march into the interior of Mississippi, in order to cut off Vicksburg from supplies & reinforcements.

* This episode of the podcast was sponsored by Simon & Schuster, publishers of "Lincoln's Spies: Their Secret War to Save a Nation" by Douglas Waller. Available wherever you get your books.

In which we look at the Battle of Port Gibson, which took place on May 1, 1863, as Grant advanced inland after landing on the east side of the Mississippi River.

In which we see the Federals marching down the Louisiana side of the Mississippi River... Porter's gunboats get battered at Grand Gulf... and by the end of the show, Grant's army is finally ready to cross over to the east bank below Vicksburg.

In which we turn our attention back to Ulysses S Grant, who makes the fateful decision to march his army down the west side of the Mississippi River and then cross to the east bank below the Confederate strongpoint of Vicksburg.

In which we look at Banks' successful Bayou Teche Campaign in central Louisiana in the spring of 1863.

In which we look at events downriver from Vicksburg, including the appointment of Major General Nathaniel Banks to command the Department of the Gulf and Rear Admiral David Farragut running the the Confederate batteries at Port Hudson.

In which we look at the fate of USS Indianola and talk about the failure of the Yazoo Pass and Steele's Bayou expeditions.

In which we look at the Federal attack on Arkansas Post on January 11, 1863.

In which we look at Sherman's failed assault at Chickasaw Bayou, north of Vicksburg, at the end of December 1862.

In which we start to look at Grant's first attempt to wrest Vicksburg from the Confederates. It didn't go well.

In which we continue to look at the background to the Vicksburg Campaign.

In which we continue to look at the background to the Vicksburg Campaign.

In which start to look at the background to the Vicksburg Campaign.

In which we wrap-up our look at how West Virginia, in the midst of the Civil War, became the thirty-fifth state of the Union.