Death in Devil's Den-Eyewitness Account

[Gettysburg Greg]

I enjoy eye witness accounts of the battle at Gettysburg that relate to an identifiable location that can be found today. Sgt. William Houghton of the 2nd Georgia provided just such an account when he returned to the area of Devil's Den in 1913 where his unit had fought 50 years before. In my photo of Devil's Den below, I have identified the "rock ledge", "government avenue", and "iron sign" that Sgt. Houghton used when describing his experience on this spot on July 2nd, 1863.... Paraphrasing Houghton, as my regiment passed through this area not 20 feet away on a rock ledge stood a line of blue coats firing straight down on our line. Private Mays and Lieutenant Muse, shot through the top of the head, fell right where the government avenue now passes the iron Devil's Den sign. My photo shows the exact location Houghton describes so vividly. I first became aware of this vignette from a battlewalk video done by Garry Adelman. The story is also detailed in Tim Smith and Garry Adelman's great book, "Devil's Den-A History and Guide".

 

[alexjack]

Good story Greg.

 

[Greg Taylor]

I enjoy eye witness accounts of the battle at Gettysburg that relate to an identifiable location that can be found today. Sgt. William Houghton of the 2nd Georgia provided just such an account when he returned to the area of Devil's Den in 1913 where his unit had fought 50 years before. In my photo of Devil's Den below, I have identified the "rock ledge", "government avenue", and "iron sign" that Sgt. Houghton used when describing his experience on this spot on July 2nd, 1863.... Paraphrasing Houghton, as my regiment passed through this area not 20 feet away on a rock ledge stood a line of blue coats firing straight down on our line. Private Mays and Lieutenant Muse, shot through the top of the head, fell right where the government avenue now passes the iron Devil's Den sign. My photo shows the exact location Houghton describes so vividly. I first became aware of this vignette from a battlewalk video done by Garry Adelman. The story is also detailed in Tim Smith and Garry Adelman's great book, "Devil's Den-A History and Guide".
View attachment 104880

Thank you for posting this account with the accompanying photo. It brings the inanimate scene of some rather ordinary rocks to vivid life. I can almost see those blue coats firing straight down on me. The vision is frightening!

 

[Yankeedave]

The Yanks caught them in the flank, but the yanks are darn near back to back to Smith's four guns and the 124th NY, who are covering the triangle field, in the opposite direction. And gregg is the man.
Who is to the 2nd Georgia's front? Do the georgia boys fire ahead, or refuse left flank, or what? bennings ga brigade, plus arkansas and texans. But the defence of this, and other crappy spots, broke the confederate thrust. lrt and mcgilvery line was the final break. if this had been the original defensive, it would have broak here.

 

[Tom Elmore]

When the 2nd Georgia was passing that point, the Federals in the rocks above them on their left belonged to the 99th Pennsylvania, which had just arrived from their previous position on the far right of Ward's brigade.

Moving up on the right rear of the 2nd Georgia at that time was the 44th Alabama, which until then had been pinned down by the 4th Maine initially, and then by the 99th Pennsylvania. It was only a few moments after the 2nd Georgia swept onto the scene (along with the rest of Benning's brigade) that the Federal position at Devil's Den completely collapsed, and they retreated northward. The Georgians quickly took cover behind the many boulders in the vicinity and proceeded to renew the pressure on the Federals across the valley on Little Round Top.

 

[Gettysburg Greg]

When the 2nd Georgia was passing that point, the Federals in the rocks above them on their left belonged to the 99th Pennsylvania, which had just arrived from their previous position on the far right of Ward's brigade.

Moving up on the right rear of the 2nd Georgia at that time was the 44th Alabama, which until then had been pinned down by the 4th Maine initially, and then by the 99th Pennsylvania. It was only a few moments after the 2nd Georgia swept onto the scene (along with the rest of Benning's brigade) that the Federal position at Devil's Den completely collapsed, and they retreated northward. The Georgians quickly took cover behind the many boulders in the vicinity and proceeded to renew the pressure on the Federals across the valley on Little Round Top.

Great info, thanks-here is a then and now I made of the fighting in this area using Bradly Schmehl's painting.

 

[Tom Elmore]

Here's are two accounts from the other side. The first, a historical sketch, by C. H. Fasnacht, was read at the dedication of the 99th Pennsylvania monument. The "rebels came out from behind the rocks at Devil's Den and our volley killed and wounded scores of their number. ... Our fire was so unexpected by them and came on their flank that it staggered and disorganized them so that they took to the shelter of the rock for some time."

Harvey May Munsell of Company C, 99th Pennsylvania wrote, "I had a color guard of eight corporals, and every man was killed or wounded. The rebels were pouring into our rear in vast numbers on both flanks. General Ward ordered our regiment, or what was left to it, to fall back as quickly as possible." During the retreat, Munsell, while carrying the colors, was momentarily stunned by a shell explosion. When Crawford's Pennsylvania Reserves passed over him, he jumped up and made for the rear, where his comrades were astonished and overjoyed to see their flag again. Munsell carried the colors through 13 battles and numerous skirmishes, and later in the war was promoted to captain. He received the Medal of Honor for his actions at Gettysburg.

 

[Doug5861]

This was posted on the GNMP blog a while back about a newly found photo and story about one of Burbank's regulars in the Valley of Death
https://npsgnmp.wordpress.com/2015/06/19/sergeant-stouch-returns-to-gettysburg/

 

[bankerpapaw]

Great info, thanks-here is a then and now I made of the fighting in this area using Bradly Schmehl's painting.
View attachment 104888

I don't recall ever seeing the picture on the left. Puts things into perspective.

 

[gary]

Thanks guys for the interesting stories.