No Bullet Holes in Devil's Den

[Tyler123]

I recently visited Gettysburg expecting lots on battle damage on the rocks in devil's Den but was surprised to see no bullets holes at all in the Devils Den rocks. Any Insight on this?

 

[huskerblitz]

Only guessing but that rock is considerably harder than lead, so the lead would just flatten upon impact. Any scarring probably would have been weathered away fairly quickly.

 

[Tyler123]

Only guessing but that rock is considerably harder than lead, so the lead would just flatten upon impact. Any scarring probably would have been weathered away fairly quickly.

Thank you

 

[thomas aagaard]

And add the fact that it was more than 150 years ago. Even rock get effected by win and water over that period.

 

[Kurt G]

Actually there was damage and carved graffiti in the rock that the park service chiseled away many years ago . I believe I read that in "Devil's Den;A History and Guide" by Adelman and Smith .

 

[Tyler123]

Actually there was damage and carved graffiti in the rock that the park service chiseled away many years ago . I believe I read that in "Devil's Den;A History and Guide" by Adelman and Smith .

Wow I have never heard of that, I should probably ask the park about that.

 

[Kurt G]

Wow I have never heard of that, I should probably ask the park about that.

From the book they reference an 1898 guidebook . " Time and the chisel employed by the United States government have greatly altered the face of these boulders . Since 1837 , the earliest date inscribed , it had been common practice to place inscriptions here . Acting upon the argument that what would have been done would continue while the suggestion remained , the government had all carefully removed ."

 

[johan_steele]

There was evidence of solid striking rock in several places when I was there back in the early 80's.

 

[infomanpa]

Only guessing but that rock is considerably harder than lead, so the lead would just flatten upon impact. Any scarring probably would have been weathered away fairly quickly.

And add the fact that it was more than 150 years ago. Even rock get effected by win and water over that period.

Yes, this type of rock (diabase) is extremely hard, which also makes it resistant to weathering and erosion.

 

[Larryh86GT]

Good point. I would think there would be evidence of minie balls striking the stone.

 

[DixieRifles]

Any scarring probably would have been weathered away fairly quickly

I am more surprised at some of the Then versus Now photos that show how some big boulders have seem to moved or changed shapes.

 

[infomanpa]

I am more surprised at some of the Then versus Now photos that show how some big boulders have seem to moved or changed shapes.

Some of the boulders have been moved or even broken. In only 150 years, none of them would have noticeably changed due to weathering. If you examine and compare then and now pictures of the same boulders, you will notice that they look remarkably the same.

 

[JerseyBart]

Time and pressure healed its wounds.

 

[pamc153PA]

There was evidence of solid striking rock in several places when I was there back in the early 80's.

@johan_steele is correct. One of the rocks in the photo in the OP (the one with "Devil's Bath" written over it, the rock with Devil's Den underneath it) has a solid shot strike near the top edge. You can kind of see a ragged edge at the top; in person, you can also see circular impact marks.

 

[Tyler123]

@johan_steele is correct. One of the rocks in the photo in the OP (the one with "Devil's Bath" written over it, the rock with Devil's Den underneath it) has a solid shot strike near the top edge. You can kind of see a ragged edge at the top; in person, you can also see circular impact marks.

@johan_steele is correct. One of the rocks in the photo in the OP (the one with "Devil's Bath" written over it, the rock with Devil's Den underneath it) has a solid shot strike near the top edge. You can kind of see a ragged edge at the top; in person, you can also see circular impact marks.

So its on the Devils Bath rock?

 

[Wallyfish]

Being a former geology major, the Gettysburg geology is quite interesting and rare for the east coast (at least to me). There are several good reads on how geology impacted the battle (has both geology and Battle detail). One source is shown below. But there are many other reads as well.

Geology source

If you want more technical detail on Gettysburg's rocks, do searches for York Haven diabase which is prevelent in the Devil's Den area and other nearby places.

You can also do web searches to see the old graffiti on the rocks of Devil's Den which is now long gone.

Minnie balls were soft lead and deformed by hitting human bone. Minnie balls made little impact on hard igneous rocks. As Pam points out, you really have to look to find battle damaged rocks. I have given up looking for any battle damaged rocks.

Gettysburg is a remarkable place that is much more than the battle we are so fond of.

 

[scone]

lot of difference rock an brick - you can the marks on the back of the Carter smokehouse Different battle and Surface and think of distance of the firing may have effected things just my thoughts

 

[Wallyfish]

@scone, The Sweney House (now the Farnsworth House Inn) is the poster child in Gettysburg for ball damage in the brick. There are other battle damaged buildings including several with artillery damage. Some artillery shells were mortared in after the battle, but many date to the battle. The Trostle Barn hole is the poster child for artillery damaged buildings.

 

[scone]

@scone, The Sweney House (now the Farnsworth House Inn) is the poster child in Gettysburg for ball damage in the brick. There are other battle damaged buildings including several with artillery damage. Some artillery shells were mortared in after the battle, but many date to the battle. The Trostle Barn hole is the poster child for artillery damaged buildings.

Yes I did a quick tour Aug 2001... to much to see not enough time did the basic quick drive through battlefield tour... Family on both sides there . Could spend days their and not see every thing that needs to be seen.

 

[scone]

@Wallyfish looking at photos now never made it there. I did see the Trostle Barn hole, Amazing to see it front of you and touch it …