"Plum Run Gettysburg" Topic

I know… I should get a life etc. Can some "Gettysburger" tell me if the large group of rocks opposite Devil's Den have Plum Run running through them or if the stream skirts around them. Difficult to pick up on Google Maps. I need to know for a terrain board. Thanks. Gary

Well, there are large rocks/boulders on both sides of Plum Run, if that's what you're asking.

The creek forks just south of Devils Den, there is a feeder creek running just in front (west) of Devils Den. There are large rock in the vicinity of Plum Run to the South/South West of Devils Den.

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This painting is not too bad and you can see some of the larger boulders in the vicinity of Plum Run. Slightly exaggerated IMHO.

jamescgroves.com/gallery.htm

VR
James Mattes

In 1863, the area from Devils Den to the foot of (Big) Round Top was boulder strewn and known as the Slaughter Pen

Thanks guys, getting closer. James, it is the very large area of rocks upon rocks that constitutes the slaughter pen that I am interested in. Does the stream run through them or closer to Big Round Top. On Google Maps I can clearly see the stream right at the head of them at the north (upstream)end but does it continue through them or travel alongside them. I can pick out the Rose Run fork further downstream. I think you are telling me that Plum Run veers and runs south of most of these rocks and not through them – is that correct?

Here is a better picture but the overhead Google Maps really highlights the essence of my question.

‌IMG_6821 by fauxtobug, on Flickr

That is a great painting never seen it before.

Sorry can't help with the question – but those photos show how much the park look has changed since I was last there in 2009 as they return the vegetation to the state it was.

You can see it smack in the middle of the photo above. It is a very small stream although what it looked like in 1863 is a different story. I bet Pfanz can give you a better idea.

Rick Barber is the man to ask. Not sure if he haunts TMP, but you can find him on consimworld. link

The Creek runs thorough AND around the rocks just south of Devils Den in what is called the Slaughter Pen. The Slaughter Pen lays right up against the sloop of Big Round top and flows down South/South-West towards the Heer Farmstead. The area is roughly defined as where the current bridge is at the T intersection. This is where the area known as the Valley of Death meets the Slaughter Pen. South through the boulder falls to a point about 400 meters where it turns along the contour lines of Big Round Top. Then heads south generally between open field to Herr Farm lane.

Go to Google Earth and expand the area to a scale where the legend scale is 200 feet/ 100 meters. Start where Warren Ave T's at Crawford Road and Sickles Ave. Where the dark vegetation meets the lighter vegetation running parallel to Sickles Ave is the creek. Where there is a cross intersection of trails is where the latrines are located as indicated by the shack in the photo above. Where the icon is for the "Den Rock" is located is where the boulder fall starts to get heaviest. It then runs South-West thought the boulders for about 200 meters to foot trail by the clump of trees. This is where the boulder fall basically ends. The creek skirts South along the Northern tree line where it jets out of the Big Round Top wood line. The creek runs parallel to the wood line about 100 meters off in the middle of the open area. It crosses Herr Farm road ½ way between the last bend in the road and the woodline.

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Here is a good contemporary image of the site circ 1863:

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As for book this is a very good work that is also available as an e-book

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I do not have access to my library or photo files from here they are stored in North Carolina. I have perhaps every square meter of the battlefield on photo but not loaded up digital yet.

Here is the foot bridge going from Sickles Ave parking area to the Latrines show above.

Here is a good image of the Slaughter pen looking towards Herr farmstead. Notice the individual laying in near the large rocks in the forground before the Herr Farm on the right side. The creek can be seen just behind the tall growth in the center left of the image.

And another view of the foot bridge from a different angle:

Feel free to ask for more clarification if needed.

VR
James Mattes

DARN BUG GOT ME! Here is a reposting and one more map from the Farnsworth charge that shows the course of the creek:

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Here is General Hunt's description of the area, as he saw it on 2 July 1863:

" "Plum Run flows south-easterly toward Little Round Top, then makes a bend to the south-west, where it receives a small stream or `branch' from Seminary Ridge. In the angle between these streams is Devil's Den, a bold, rocky height, steep on its eastern face, and prolonged as a ridge to the west. It is 500 yard due west of Little Round Top, and 100 feet lower. The northern extremity is composed of huge rocks and bowlders, forming innumerable crevices and holes, from the largest of which the hill derives its name. Plum Run valley is here marshy but strewn with similar bowlders, and the slopes of the Round Tops are covered with them…."

Houdini, from the pic you supplied, here is roughly where Plum Run lays. I may be off a little bit, but not by much. I visit the rocks of Devil's Den often.

It literally runs right through and under a bunch of the big boulders which I believe is a part of the slaughter pen. If anyone else can elaborate on that, please do. I'm not sure where Plum Run splits on the southern end.

Thanks so much for the help guys! I now have the level of detail I was trying to get and so it is back to the terrain boards.

Houdini,

Note that if you are making a game board of the battle, the large boulders of Devil's Den was more extensive then it is now. The area on FireZouave's pic shows a parking lot. At the time of the battle that area was rocky as well. The largest of the boulders was at the area where the road curls around and over the present Devil's Den. They blasted away many boulders to add the roadway & parking lot for the Park.

Don

actionfront.blogspot.com

"Who ever saw a dead cavalryman?"

Thanks for the tip Don. Had not considered that.

Yes, deffinger is absolutely correct!