Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-06-04
HOLDING DEVILS DEN.
An Interesting "Reminiscences Of the Bassis
Of Gettysburg.


IT Is A LONG TINE AGO Now-AN
l. cient history TO the rising Cor risen) genera
tion-bu; that sulphurous day in July. 1853,
when il seemed 20 ms around the picturesque
old Pennsylvania borough Of Gettysburg ss IL
the lid had lifted from the 'bottomless pit i- -
vividly before me though the tremendous
events that have made il forever memorable
had occurred but yesterday.
About $50 am. Of July 2. 1868. nv COM
mand. the fourth New York independent bat
terry, then near Emmittsburg. received orders
to rejoin the third corps. 20 which il belonged.
at Gettysburg. eleven miles away. AZ we were
then guarding the Hagerstown pike Il took
some time TO withdraw the picket. and gcs
things in readiness for the march. 80 that IL was
fully O'Clock in the morning Of that fatefu
day before swung out and started mp the
Gettysburg road II was hot and dusty pull.
but il was straight TO where the guns were
booming. and the entire command was eager 20
be IN at the front We reached the ground be-
tween the two armies about lam. and as We
approached a peach orchnrd-now famous in
history noticed that the fences had been
cleared away in preparation for battle. while
little pulls of thin blue smoke dotted the plain
before us, family indicating the respective
lines of the two greatest armies on earth that
day.
BETWEEN THE LINES.
Before we had reached the orchard q Young
officer came spurring toward at fun speed
from the direction Of a wheat field on the east,
waving white handkerchief 20 attract attention.
A hnlt was sounded. and as he rode bv he
informed Ms that were between the lines and
IN a position Of great peril We accordingly
turned sharp to the right and drove al a trot
into the wheat field before mentioned and there
parked the battery. awaiting orders. Here We
lay, keenly observant Of the movements around
us, showing hurried preparation for a coming
Dattie. until about 1 2. m, when Capt. q. 4.
Randolph. chief of artillery of the third corps
came up. and directing me 20 follow him with
the guns, piloted us 20 a steep and rocky ridge
running north and south. the extremity OF
which was known locally as The Devils Den
Here was ordered to take position and hold ID
At all hazards We hauled the pieces up the crest
OF the Den" by hand, the horses were use
less among the huge bouders and broken eullies
that scanned the ridge,
IN DEVILS DEN
There was room for four guns only on tho
crest the other two being placed about seventv-
five yards 20 the rear and commanding the
gorge of Plum run. which cut through the
ridge to the south. Two regiments of infantry,
fourth Maine. Col. Walker, and the one hundred
and twenty-fourth New York (the Orange Bios
sons ,, Col. Ellis. formed in my rear 10 cover
the open space stretching away TO the base Of
Round Top"
We constituted the extreme left Of the Union
line. and soon found that were placed here
to prevent, at any sacrifice. the enemy's adj
vance on Little Round Top. In front. down
the slope, was n stone fence. and beyond about
l,soO yards from us, the confederate right.
AN ARruLERy DUEL
We had no sooner got into position than the
ball opened, the enemy's guns getting our
range with astonishing precision. We promptly
responded, and for about an hour an artillery
duel ensued without any special results A
little after pm. through the lurid atmosphere
| saw the confederate battaions massing for Q
forward movement. The supreme moment for
us had arrived. and every man in the battery
felt IL and braced himself for the shock with
Hoods swarthy warriors As the heavy gray
lines advanced our guns were served superblv
and every shot told in the dense mass Of in
fantry. but only partially hndered the advance
OF these ragged veterans OF a hundred battle
fields.
"Close up. men, was constantly heard above
the deafening roar of the fight rs our canister
tore great gaps in their line. And still they
advanced. while our guns were fired as fast az
they could be loaded without sponging. The
rocks scattered so plentifully about the base Of
the ridge afforded excellent shelter for the
sharpshooters. who swarmed in front OF their
advancing columns. and the effect Of their
deadly skill was soon felt. Men commenced to
drop at the pieces, but the rest gallsntly stood
TO their posts and worked the guns rapidly and
effectively until the enemy had reached the
stone fence. Here they made q momentary
halt preparatory TO q final charge on the bat
terry. Gen. Hunt chief Of artillery OF the Army
of the Potomac, had just before this come up
to the crest and urged me TO keep them at bay
until the Union forces could occupy Little
Round Top.
Hold them for thirty minutes, captain" he
shouted, land the battle is won" From the
destructive fire of the sharpshooters and the
fact that our guns could not be depressed
sufficiently to do much execution at the base of
the hill our situation becoming desperate.
In this extremity called on Col Ellis and Col
Walker for help. They calamity responded,
and with a mighty shout the "Orange Bios
SONS" and the Maine boys plunged through
the battery, down the slope, over rocks and
bushes. straight into the jaws Of death. for
they were met at the fence by an awful sheet OF
flame, before which they melted away, the
survivors struggling back and forming again TO
the right and left of the guns IL was a costly
sacrifice, but il held the enemy back. and every
minute counted now in the race for Little
Round Top.
ASSISTANCE FROM MAINE AND PENNSYLVANIA.
The ninety-ninth Pennsylvania here came up
and formed on our left and rear, the "0range
Blossoms" and fourth Maine having been with
drawn. But the gray-brown masses press on
Bennings brigade through the gorge which our
fire could not reach, and fanking the bat
terry. while the nemy in front swarmed mp the
slope and on 20 the guns which we we're forced to
leave. We dGcl3d back 10 the other two posted
in the rear and opened with canister at short
range on the confederates pouring through the
gorge, and with such sudden and terrible effect
that their column was broken and they sought
shelter in the adjacent woods. But the ranks
quickly reformed for charge across the 'val-
ley of death. =" now held by these two pieces and
the fortieth New York and sixth New Jersey.
AT CRITICAL MOMENT.
At this critical moment the welcome roar Of
Hazlett's guns from the summit Of Little Round
Top Numbered the glad tidings that the Union
forces had taken possession OF the goal for
which the confederates had been fighting three
long hours, and we knew that our task was done,
and that the blood poured out and the brave
lives lost at Devils Den had not been sacrificed
in vain.
With the two guns we then retired through
the woods 10 the Baltimore pike, leaving three
on the crest in possession of the enemy, not .
costly price to pay for the time we had gained
by holding them to the uttermost limit and so
enabling our forces to occupy the key Of the po-
sition, Little Round Top.
JAMES z. SMITH,
Late Capt. 4th n. Y. Independent Battery.