Gettysburg Photos, Part II, Little Round Top & Devil's Den

The battle of Gettysburg took place from July 1-3, 1863. On the second day, a small, rocky, somewhat bald hill became a key to victory for both the Union and the Confederate armies. Why? Because this hill, now known as Little Round Top, was an elevated position with a view over almost the entire battlefield. Whichever side controlled Little Round Top would be able to set up artillery and bomb the opposition from an elevated position. On the second day of battle, Confederate soldiers repeatedly tried to take Little Round Top from the dug-in Union soldiers on top of the hill. During fierce fighting, the Union was finally able to push the Southern soldiers back at the end of the day. The victory by the Union on Little Round Top set the stage for Day three, in which the Confederacy launched the now famous Pickett's Charge.

The photos here show two primary areas. The first pictures are views from Little Round Top or pictures of Little Round Top itself (the castle-like monument in the above photo obviously was not there in 1863). Caroline, Mary, and Bobby are in several of these photos. After about six pictures, you will see a change from what looks like a rocky hill to what looks like a mass of large boulders. That area is known as Devil's Den. While Devil's Den was fun for us to climb around, the fighting that took place there on July 2, 1863 was absolutely brutal. I have included several photos of our kids, along with a picture of a sharpshooter's position (aiming at Little Round Top), and a refurbished cannon.

Let us never forget what was sacrificed on those three days in 1863 when over 50,000 men died for what they believed was right.