Gettysburg Daily

Gettysburg Rock Carvings 5 with Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Tim Smith

Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Tim Smith is the co-author of the book Devil’s Den, A History and Guide from Thomas Publications. He continues our look at Gettysburg Rock Carvings by showing us carvings in Plum Run Valley/The Valley of Death. Here Tim is standing by the monument to the 4th Maine Infantry Regiment. This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 4:15 PM on Thursday, July 9, 2009.

Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Tim Smith begins a series on Gettysburg Rock Carvings. Tim is a native of Baltimore, Maryland, and has been a Licensed Battlefield Guide at Gettysburg National Military Park since 1992. Tim is the Research Historian for the Adams County Historical Society, and has written numerous articles, booklets, and books about the Gettysburg area. Tim is the co-author with Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Garry Adelman of Devil’s Den, A History and Guide.

In our first post, Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Tim Smith began our tour of Gettysburg Rock Carvings at Devil’s Den. He introduced us to the rock carvings and explained how the government chiseled away many of the rock carvings in 1894.

In our second post Tim showed us more items around the Table Rock area, and how the angle of the sun helps find rock carvings.

In our third post, Tim Smith showed us the most well-known carving at Devil’s Den, and how some people make sure that they stay at Devil’s Den forever.

In our fourth post Tim showed us carvings at the Elephant Rock, his ability to get on top of the Elephant Rock, and carvings on the Flag Boulder.

In today’s post, Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Tim Smith shows us carvings in Plum Run Valley/The Valley of Death.

See the following posts with Tim Smith:

ACHS Battle of Gettysburg Civil War Research Room on February 10, 2009.
Lutheran Theological Seminary Cupola Part 1 on February 12, 2009.
Lutheran Theological Seminary Cupola Part 2 on February 16, 2009.

This map shows us the locations taken of videos for the Gettysburg Rock Carvings series. Video #1 was taken in the Slaughter Pen. Videos #2 and #3 were taken in the area of the “balancing rock” or “table rock” at Devil’s Den. Video #4 was taken in the passageway underneath the “table rock.” Video #5 was taken on the west side of the Table Rock. Video #6 was taken southwest of the Table Rock. Video #7 was taken near the left flank marker of Smith’s 4th New York Battery. Videos #8 and #9 were taken south of the wooden foot bridge over the “chasm” at Devil’s Den. Videos #10 and #11 were taken at the Elephant Rock. Video #12 was taken at the Flag Boulder. Video #13 was taken at the rock carving for the 4th Maine Infantry Regiment. Video #14 was taken at the rock carving for the 40th New York Infantry Regiment. This map was created facing north at approximately 5:00 PM on Friday, July 31, 2009.

Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Tim Smith points to the rock carving for the 4th Maine Infantry Regiment. The monument to the 4th Maine is now behind Tim. This view was taken facing southwest at approximately 4:15 PM on Thursday, July 9, 2009.
In Video #13 (Videos #1-#12 were shown in our previous Rock Carvings posts) Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Tim Smith shows the rock carving for the 4th Maine Infantry Regiment that Tim rediscovered in 1993. This view was taken facing southwest to southeast at approximately 4:15 PM on Monday, July 13, 2009.

A closeup of the 4th Maine Rock Carving shows the reddish colored diamond. The color red shows that the 4th Maine represented the First Division of the Third Corps. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 4:15 PM on Monday, July 13, 2009.

The monument to the 40th New York Infantry Regiment is on the left. Licensed Battlefield Guide Tim Smith is crouching by the rock carving to the 40th New York. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 4:15 PM on Monday, July 13, 2009.
In Video #14 Licensed Battlefield Guide Tim Smith shows us the location of the rock carving to the 40th New York Infantry Regiment. This view was taken facing southeast to southwest at approximately 4:15 PM on Monday, July 13, 2009.

A closer view of the rock carving to the 40th New York Infantry which has been in this location since at least 1888. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 4:15 PM on Monday, July 13, 2009.

Tim Smith is the co-author with Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Garry Adelman of Devil’s Den, A History and Guide. It was first published by Thomas Publications, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania in 1997. This cover was scanned facing south at approximately 8:00 PM on Tuesday, July 14, 2009.

To see other posts by Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guides, click here.