Devil’s Den is a boulder-strewn hill on the south end of Houck’s Ridge at Gettysburg Battlefield, once used by artillery and infantry (e.g., sharpshooters) on the second day of the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg during the American Civil War. A tourist attraction since the memorial association era, several boulders are worn from foot traffic and the site includes numerous cannon, memorials, and walkways, including a bridge spanning two boulders. Throughout the mid-19th Century, local residents believed that the crevices between the boulders were home to a large snake. The size of the reptile varied between accounts, but reports ranged from 8 ft (2.4 m) to as large as 15 ft (4.6 m). The snake became known as “The Devil,” and thus the area he was believed to inhabit became known as “The Devil’s Den.” Some soldiers’ accounts used the name “Devil’s Cave”, and a depression on a boulder that collects water resembles a flying horned bat.
First Appearance “Famous Snake” in Gettysburg Times (Jan 23 1932)
First Publisher ○
Appearance List Article: “Famous Snake” in Gettysburg Times (Jan 23 1932). Podcast: Astonishing Legends: Episode 155 Abduction at Devil’s Den, and Episode 222-223 Devil’s Den The Reckoning.
Sample Read Astonishing Legends: Episode 155 Abduction at Devil’s Den [YT]
Description Devil’s Den is a boulder-strewn hill on the south end of Houck’s Ridge at Gettysburg Battlefield, once used by artillery and infantry (e.g., sharpshooters) on the second day of the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg during the American Civil War. A tourist attraction since the memorial association era, several boulders are worn from foot traffic and the site includes numerous cannon, memorials, and walkways, including a bridge spanning two boulders. Throughout the mid-19th Century, local residents believed that the crevices between the boulders were home to a large snake. The size of the reptile varied between accounts, but reports ranged from 8 ft (2.4 m) to as large as 15 ft (4.6 m). The snake became known as “The Devil,” and thus the area he was believed to inhabit became known as “The Devil’s Den.” Some soldiers’ accounts used the name “Devil’s Cave”, and a depression on a boulder that collects water resembles a flying horned bat.
