Not So Dead in Devil's Den

[Gettysburg Greg]

The top photo was taken in November of 1863, four months after the battle. The camera is facing the rocks of Devil's Den and though difficult to see there are a half dozen or so soldiers lying among the rocks pretending to be dead. This is another in the series of photos taken that day by P. S. Weaver with these men posed as dead in various locations among the rocks. Weaver's ruse probably was convincing at the time. Even today many publications caption Weaver's series of photos as actual battle casualties, and facebook always covers them. On the bottom is my now pic in the same location taken last September. I am standing behind the iron Devil's Den sign that has been there since ca. 1900.

 

[Pete Longstreet]

I recently just came across another post, which I learned for the first time about this staged "corpse" technique used by other photographers of that era. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Gettysburg Greg]

I recently just came across another post, which I learned for the first time about this staged "corpse" technique used by other photographers of that era. Thanks for sharing.

I was only aware of this one case where Weaver took several photos of these fellas around the Den. Could you be more specific? Thanks.

 

[ronzzo]

The NPS has some Then and Now photos. https://www.nps.gov/gett/learn/photosmultimedia/then-and-now.htm

Greg, I know you have some other Then and Now photos in Devils Den from Weaver's photos.

 

[7thWisconsin]

My parents honeymooned in Gettysburg. There's a picture of my Dad taken in 1960 in front of that sign so it just reads "Devil".

 

[Pete Longstreet]

I was only aware of this one case where Weaver took several photos of these fellas around the Den. Could you be more specific? Thanks.

It was actually your other post about the Brian House. It was the topic itself I learned about. Before that i had no idea. Another good post. I just found it here:

https://civilwartalk.com/threads/mathew-brady-and-the-posed-corpse.171060/

 

[Gettysburg Greg]

It was actually your other post about the Brian House. It was the topic itself I learned about. Before that i had no idea. Another good post. I just found it here:

https://civilwartalk.com/threads/mathew-brady-and-the-posed-corpse.171060/

Good point, I know your source and he's seldom wrong. ;-) Brady did attempt a similar guise using his assistant in at least three photos. As you probably know, he didn't get to GB until all real bodies were buried. Thanks for reminding me.

 

[Kip124thNY]

Thanks for posting Gettysburg Greg!

 

[Gettysburg Guide #154]

I have read that the photographers who did this sort of thing felt justified. However, to me it seems disrespectful of those who actually died. Maybe I am only seeing things through modern eyes, but can you imagine the uproar someone staged bodies of the dead in the weeks following 9/11?

The truly unfortunate thing is that Gettysburg Greg's posting will mostly be read by folks who know the truth. It's too bad that more cannot be done to correct all the misinformation that has accumulated over the last century and a half.