Devil’s Den was the rugged rock formation that served as a key defensive position during the Battle of Gettysburg. This boulder-strewn hill lies on the southern end of Houck’s Ridge, west of Little Round Top and near Plum Run.
On July 2, 1863, the battle’s second day, Union troops from Brigadier General J. H. Hobart Ward’s brigade defended the position. The rocks offered cover for infantry, artillery, and sharpshooters, making Devil’s Den an important part of the Union left flank. Confederate troops from John Bell Hood’s division attacked fiercely and eventually captured the position.
From the rocks, Confederate sharpshooters could fire toward Union troops on Little Round Top. The fighting was costly: about 2,423 Union soldiers engaged suffered 821 casualties, while the Confederate force of roughly 5,525 suffered about 1,814.
The name predates the battle. Local stories claimed that a large snake lived among the crevices, inspiring the ominous name. Devil’s Den is often confused with Little Round Top, but they are separate features.