The Devil(s Den) made me do it

                Yesterday’s blog contained some images of the area around an area within the Gettysburg Battlefield Park known as the Devil’s Den. More of the same today, but this time we’ll see more of the approaching areas trod by the Confederates as they attacked the Den and Little Round Top on July 3, 1863.

          First, a bit of further advice to go with our recommendation yesterday about sun screen and a hat: Be sure to smear yourself with plenty of insect repellant, particularly anti-tic stuff, as well as the sun screen. If you know a hunter, ask what brand the hunter prefers. There are plenty of varieties of insects on the battlefield, so be sure to use something with a wide range of applications.

          Your loyal blogger usually bathes in sun screen in the hotel room before heading out, giving the grease time to soak in before arriving at the battlefield. Upon arrival, the anti-bug stuff gets applied. Lots of it.

          The images here were collected during a 2010 hike in the fields in front of the Devil’s Den. The captions with the images will explain them.

The Devil's Den.

          The first image is included to give the first-time viewer a feel for the size of the boulders in the Den. This particular view looks sort of east to west from the modern day parking lot.

The large tree is generally the left-most edge of the Devils Den. Look just to the right of the tree to see a plaque
for modern visitors. That gives the viewer a feel for the location of the larger boulders in the image above this one.
Look to the left side of the image and see the castle-like monument. That structure sits on Little Round Top.

          Generally, the rocky terrain is approximately as it was in 1863. There are a few unit markers, depending upon which path you follow, but generally the walkways in these areas are unimproved dirt walking paths.

          Some of the boulders are easily climbed for a better view, others are not. There is a lot of vegetation in today’s Park that was kept to a minimum by farm animals and wild critters 150 years ago. The vegetation is tall enough that it is difficult to see, at times, the areas of interest. The captions with the images detail where the best-known locations are.

          To reach the area where two of the images were captured, find the rock fence that borders the Triangular Field and follow the path that continues along that fence downhill and, in general, toward Seminary Ridge. Turn left at the path at the bottom of the hill and walk back toward the Devil’s Den. In approximate terms, Round Top (aka Big Round Top) will be to your front and Seminary Ridge way off to your right. When you reach a point in front of the Den, turn to face it. Little Round Top will be behind the Den and off to the right.



From the pathway described in the text above, looking toward Seminary Ridge. Notice the changes in elevation. The
sharp-eyed viewer will see a car in the right center of the upper area of the photograph. Also, see the
farmhouse on the far left border of the image. Those items should give a feel for the distances involved.

          Keep in mind that, especially in early July, the heat and humidity can be significant in this area. You’ll want to have water with you, something the Confederates did not have.

          The goal here is to give you a feel for the ground that the two sides fought over when the sides met at the Devils Den. Walking in these locations made a profound impression on your loyal blogger.

Reading about the fighting there is one thing, but walking the ground is something else.

 

Thanks for reading. Now go for a walk.