The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1908-08-06

49, ~

from the southwest, turns rather snarp-
ly to the eastward. Cemetery Hill, after
being depressed little, rises again in
another eminence net quite SO high,
known as Culp's Hill, and this swings
around to the south, forming what
would answer to the point and barb of
the hook. On its eastern face runs
Rock Creek, forming at places steep
bluffs. These two hills were rocky and
rugged, and We're partially covered with
trees. From Cemetery Hill the ridge
runs in well-defined uplift, but it sinks
down very low in places almost due
southwark for over three miles, when
II terminates in a high, rocky, wooded
peak named Round Top. Before reach
ing this is smaller elevation, covered
with huge rocks and bare of trees,
known as Little Round Top. In front
of the Round Tops lay a narrow ravine
strewn with huge boulders and drained
by rivulet running into Plum Run. On
the westward side of this ravine. and a
few hundred rods from Little Rornd
Top, the rocks were of the most rugged
nature and shapeless arrangement,
forming what is known as the Devils
Den. Still west of this the ground grad
ually becomes more even and arabic,
slipping down into the Wheat Field and
Peach Orchard, which were destined
to become the scenes of the saddcst
and most sinister as well as the most
glorious memories in Americas history.
paragraph from an article by Maj
Gen. Henry ]. Hunt, Chief of Artillery
of the Army of the Potomac, may help
the reader to better understand features
in the topography which were to play
20 prominent a part in the immoral
drama to follow.
Gen. Hunts Description.
Gen. Hunt being an artillery officer
and having charge of all the guns Tn
the field, may naturally be expected to
have a more accurate view of the ter
rain than any other officer. He says:
Near the western base OF Cemetery
Hill is Ziegler's Grove. From this grove
the distance nearly due south TO the
base of Little Round Top is a mile and
one-half. A well-defined ridge known
as Cemetery Ridge follows this line
from Zieglers for 800 yards TO another
small grove or clump of trees where IL
turns sharply to the east for 200 yards
then turns south again, and continues
In a direct line toward Round Top for
700 yards to George Weikerts. SO far
the Edge is smooth and open, in full
view of Seminary Ridge opposite, and
distant from 1,400 to 1000 yards. Al
Weikert's this ridge is lost in a large
body of rocks, hills and woods lying
athwart the direct line to Round Top
and forcing a bend to the east in the
Taneytown road. This rough space also
stretches for a quarter of a mile OF
more west of this direct line, toward
Plum Run. Toward the south it sinks
into low, marshy ground, which reaches
to the base OF Little Round Top, half q
mile or more from George Weikert's
The west side of this broken ground
was wooded thru its whole extent from
north TO south. Between this WOOD
and Plum Run is an open cleared space
500 yards wide, continuation of the
open country in front of Cemetery
Ridge; Plum Run flows southeastern
toward Little Round Top, then makes
a bend to the southwest, where II re-
eeives a small stream or branch from
Seminary Ridge. In the angle between
these streams is Devils Den. a bold
rocky hight, steep on its eastern face
and prolonged as ridge to the west
1t is 500 yards due west of Little Round
Top and 100 feet lower. The northern
extremity is composed of huge rocks
and boulders, forming innumerablt
crevices and holes from the largest o.
which the hill derives its name. Plum
Run Valley Is here marsby, but strewr