LRT framed by Devils Dens

[infomanpa]

I'll be at Gettysburg for all 3 days of the anniversary. So, today as I was climbing rocks, I thought this view was interesting.

 

[Mrs. V]

I like the geology!

 

[Lubliner]

This got me thinking of the idle time that sets in after a terrible fury, and wondered how many soldiers holding their position took the time to carve into the rock faces surrounding them. Do any at all exist?
Lubliner.

 

[ARW]

I always like the view of round top from that area.

 

[infomanpa]

This got me thinking of the idle time that sets in after a terrible fury, and wondered how many soldiers holding their position took the time to carve into the rock faces surrounding them. Do any at all exist?
Lubliner.

From the book on Devil's Den that I just read, it is my impression that any carvings that survive on the rocks were either placed there pre-war by townspeople or post-war by veterans. I don't believe that any were left during the couple days that the rocks were occupied.

 

[lelliott19]

how many soldiers holding their position took the time to carve into the rock faces surrounding them. Do any at all exist?

Here's a whole thread of rock carvings at Gettysburg. There's actually a 4th Maine carving w/ third corps insignia and the 40th New York rock in Plum Run Valley, Devil's Den area. I dont know if they are contemporary or post-war. Anyway, its an interesting thread from 2012 you might enjoy. https://civilwartalk.com/threads/the-rock-carvings-of-gettysburg.78501/

 

[Lubliner]

From the book on Devil's Den that I just read, it is my impression that any carvings that survive on the rocks were either placed there pre-war by townspeople or post-war by veterans. I don't believe that any were left during the couple days that the rocks were occupied.

In effect, I had watched a video at some earlier point on WWII in Europe, and a discussion of "Kilroy was here" had made a brief appearance, beginning in Italy if I remember correctly. I can also recall the graffiti left behind by the explorers heading west, and numerous times names have been written in caves, some dates in line with the Civil War. And @lelliott19 the thread you point to is just a magnificent opportunity to recall later what I ventured to find on July 4th, our Independence Day. Thank you so much for your helpfulness.
Lubliner.

 

[MRB1863]

Hoping for the good weather you had for your photo over the weekend. We're arriving Gettysburg Friday noonish.

 

[infomanpa]

Here's a whole thread of rock carvings at Gettysburg. There's actually a 4th Maine carving w/ third corps insignia and the 40th New York rock in Plum Run Valley, Devil's Den area. I dont know if they are contemporary or post-war. Anyway, its an interesting thread from 2012 you might enjoy. https://civilwartalk.com/threads/the-rock-carvings-of-gettysburg.78501/

Thanks. I'm pretty sure that the carvings that you mentioned were made by veterans.

 

[infomanpa]

Hoping for the good weather you had for your photo over the weekend. We're arriving Gettysburg Friday noonish.

Going to the reenactment? The worst weather there during the anniversary days was a high wind/rain storm at about 6:30 on July 2 during a battle walk with a couple hundred people. Many of them (including us) took cover in the Pennsylvania Memorial.

 

[Wallyfish]

If memory serves me correct the DA rock carving was carved within two days of his death on July 2, 1863. DA is for Captain David Acheson of the 140th Pa. Post battle, 140th C Veterans returned to the rock. They deepened the previously carved DA and they added the 140 PV to the rock below the DA.

His family located his remains based on the carving and reinterred him back in Washington, Pa around 10 days after he was killed.

There is a recent post here on how to find his rock carving. It is the only rock carving (only the DA portion) that can be attributed to the actual battle time period. Between rock carvings, witness trees, historic buildings, the unique Gettysburg geology and of course the battle itself makes Gettysburg a fascinating place to visit. JD Petruzzi's excellent Gettysburg Guide has a chapter on rock carvings with how to find verbiage.

 

[infomanpa]

JD Petruzzi's excellent Gettysburg Guide has a chapter on rock carvings with how to find verbiage.

Also, the book, Devil's Den by Garry Adelman & Tim Smith, has a diagram of all the boulders showing the location of all the rock carvings.

 

[Garandguy]

I went all over Devil's Den this past 2018 using all the latest info about rock carvings, historic photo's, etc. It's a place of power, no matter how you slice it...you get chills as the sun goes down, looking up to Little and Big Round Top...

 

[Tom Elmore]

If memory serves me correct the DA rock carving was carved within two days of his death on July 2, 1863. DA is for Captain David Acheson of the 140th Pa. Post battle, 140th C Veterans returned to the rock. They deepened the previously carved DA and they added the 140 PV to the rock below the DA.

His family located his remains based on the carving and reinterred him back in Washington, Pa around 10 days after he was killed.

There is a recent post here on how to find his rock carving. It is the only rock carving (only the DA portion) that can be attributed to the actual battle time period. Between rock carvings, witness trees, historic buildings, the unique Gettysburg geology and of course the battle itself makes Gettysburg a fascinating place to visit. JD Petruzzi's excellent Gettysburg Guide has a chapter on rock carvings with how to find verbiage.

During the time of the battle there was an "X" carved into a rock that marked the graves of two Confederate artillerymen in Captain Watson's battery. I found the following rock in the vicinity that appears to be a candidate:

 

[infomanpa]

During the time of the battle there was an "X" carved into a rock that marked the graves of two Confederate artillerymen in Captain Watson's battery. I found the following rock in the vicinity that appears to be a candidate:
View attachment 317571

Great find!