Re: O'Neal's men at Culp's Hill ?
Colonel Edward A. O'Neal Jr.'s Brigade was actively engaged on Culp's Hill on the early morning of 3 July and lost many men (I estimate about 150 casualties) during three hours of heavy fighting, with the exception of the 5th Alabama Regiment, which was left behind on sharpshooting duty in the southern outskirts of Gettysburg. Private Hooper Patrick Caffey of Company H, 3rd Alabama, who had distinguished himself in the first day's fight, had his right arm shattered on Culp's Hill, died on 13 September and is buried at Evergreen Cemetery on Cemetery Hill at Gettysburg. Private Tom Powell, also from the 3rd, had to dodge both Federal minie balls and a nest of yellow jackets (wasps) behind his rock shelter. Oscar C. Whitaker of Company I, 12th Alabama, wrote that the brigade was into it "hot and heavy" by 5 a.m. -- "I thought I had been in hot places before ... but that day capped the climax. All day long it was one continuous roar."