Trough Rock Origin and Function

[Gettysburg Greg]

The Trough Rock located next to the old trolley path through the Slaughter Pen area has become quite the attraction over the past 10 years. The purpose of the dugout trough was originally believed to be for watering horses probably because of a well-known photograph of a horse drinking from it-see photo in first comment. Of course, this logic was disputed because Plum Run was just a few yards away. It wasn't until Tim (Smith) and Garry (Adelman) discovered that there was a piping system bringing fresh water to this rock that the true purpose of the trough was confirmed. The purpose was to provide fresh water for the photo studio located right next to the rock. Water was pumped into a hole in the top of the rock, and it flowed through a crack down into the trough. In fact, the rock was also known as Fountain Rock and Flowing Rock. In this ca. 1890 Tipton photo of the rock below, notice the stain coming from the crack down to the trough. Also, you see some feathered tourists in front of the rock. My similar now shot on the bottom was taken from the trolley path. If this subject interests you, I suggest checking out Tim and Garry's video on the Gettysburg Daily page. I will provide the link, then go to Video #11, very cool stuff! https://www.gettysburgdaily.com/devils-den-part-4.../

 

[MRB1863]

History reveals so much ingenuity! Today folks depend on the internet for ordering devices.

 

[infomanpa]

That was a good video!

 

[Tom Elmore]

From the Staunton (Virginia) Vindicator, June 22, 1894: "At Devil's Den Station, a photograph of the party was taken in front of one of the boulders that rests upon the foot of Little Round Top. In passing that stone in the forenoon, one of the party was the victim of a little trick that startled him beyond measure and amused him and the whole party not a little when the mystery was cleared up. As he approached its dry, gray face, across which a seam or crack ran, and was about to put his hand upon the rock, suddenly its whole side was streaming with clear, cold water. As he was not conscious of possessing any of the energy that belonged to 'the potent rod of Amram's son,' he could only spring back and with amazement in look and tone, cry out: 'Look here! Look here! How did that water come out of that rock?' He had not seen the guide slyly open a plug in a water pipe just behind the rock and let on the water find its way out through the crack across its face."

In that party were a group of Confederate veterans, which included Capt. C. Benton Coiner of the 52nd Regiment, Frank M. Bell of the 1st Virginia Cavalry, Geo. A. Gulley of the 19th Virginia Infantry, G. W. Finley of the 56th Virginia, Eppa Fielding of the 7th Virginia Infantry and W. M. Burress of the 47th Virginia. Their guide was Luther W. Minnigh. During their visit, they encountered Col. John B. Bachelder with Colonels Nicholls and Cope.