It is very possible that the ground in this area was host to another struggle long before the Civil War. Given the nature of the ground with its natural defenses and cracks and crevices it is only understandable that this "Hallowed Ground" is actually good ground for a battle.Many artifacts including arrowheads of different size,tomahawks and other relics have long been storied to have been found on this rocky ridge of the Gettysburg Sill.An old story sometimes heard is that "Devils Den" was the place of a massive Indian Battle of two tribes fighting over the "Big Rocks" because it was once a pyramid type structure that was deystroyed by natural forces. Though unlikely it is odd that you can even to this day walk in and around and through these rocks. Many caverns and tunnels are accesible to small adults and children. In fact it has become a place for children to climb and play through the rocks.

The Diabase bolders ofDevil's Den. Photo Courtesy of National Park Service

The first people to have setteled the area we know today as Gettysburg were of German and scottish decent. They came in the early 1700's seeking freedom and a place called "Paridise". William Penn would later name a place in Lancaster County Paradise for the same reasons. William Penns sons would have a tract of land known as "The manor of Maske" which would consist of over 40,000 acres and would include the den area. The main lanmark of coure in the area would be "Big Round Top". With a height of 786 Ft. above sea level, Big round Top at that time called "Adam Lynn's Hill" named after an early settler, would show up in the earliest deeds in the 1760's. The early familys--Lynn's,Sherfy's,Armstrong's,Blacks', Miller's and Wood's would be the first modern family's to inhabit the land. The evidence of this is that rock carvings have been known to be found in and around the area of Devil's Den, most of them ranging from 1849 to the 1880's.

4th N Y Battery Monument Devil's Den Photo courtesy of National Park Service

On July Second, James Smith commanding the 4th NY Battery put his men at Devils Den. The Confederates attacked Smith's men in the Devils Den from three positions all at one time.The area was not favorable to either side. The large rocks of 20 feet or more was a horrible place for a battle. With shot and shell racing in around and over the rocks, many troops were killed as a result of scrapnel from these projectiles bopuncing off the boulders.As in many places during the Civil War where the ground was less than favorable,men were thrown into confusion. The battle in this area would switch back and forth several times. Smith placed four of his guns in the vicinity of Trangular Field where they fought off Confederate forces, both infantry and artillery. The artillery commanded by Brigadeer General Henry L. Benning made life hell for Smiths artillerymen. Smith then would turn his attention to the infantry which was quickly advancing up the triangular field toward the Devil's Den. The 15th Georgia and 1st Texas made repeated assults on the heights slowly but surely wearing down the union defenders.For over two hours this desparate assualt and defence would rage in the area until the 1st Texas would finally break through and capture the three of Smiths guns.The 44th Georgia would then pass over the den and make thier way through the gourge next to Little Round Top. The 6th New Jersey and 40th Ny would take on these alabamians and another bloody drawn out struggle would take place in the Valley of Death."

Union retreat from Devil's Den Drawn by Alfred Waud after the battle. Battles and Leaders and National Park Service

Back and Forth the battle would rage until the Union defenders were forced to retreat. Devil's Den would be captured by the Confederates and they would use it as a sharpshooters pen to pick off Union Defenders on Little Round Top and the surrounding area.Though the Confederates would take the Den they would fail in thier attemt to secure the heights of Little and Big Round Top.As night approached the confederacy would draw up plans for a massive attack on the middle of the Union line on July 3rd and the Den area would take a back seat.

The Rocks of Devil's Den. Library of Congress