A photo has recently surfaced of an apparent 'apparition' said to have been recorded along Sickles Ave. between Devil's Den and the Triangular Field (refer to the map below). The date and time of the photo were not provided.
On July 2, 1863, in a series of attacks and counter-attacks that lasted over two hours, the Union position was ultimately crushed and held by the Confederates. Above Devil's Den is a parcel of land with a stone wall and a wooden gate. This field in the shape of a triangle sets between the Peach Orchard and Devil's Den.
Although Devil's Den later emerged in popular history as a sharpshooters' bulwark and a nesting place of evil spirits, it was in fact one of Gettysburg's most terrible infantry fights. Approximately 5,000 soldiers fought a bloody battle. More than 1,800 men were killed, captured, wounded, or missing, according to the American Battlefield Trust. Surviving soldiers ranted about the awful, rocky landscape.
The general area around Devil's Den, the Wheatfield, Little Roundtop, and the valley between these locations (referred to as the Valley of Death) is well-known for sightings of apparitions.
NOTE: Many times, tourists will comment to a National Park Service Ranger about the 'reenactors' and how realistic they were when, in fact, no reenactments were occurring at the time. I have heard similar comments myself.
The photo does appear to be of a full-bodied apparition of a Union Infantry soldier, though that is left for interpretation. I will note that several apparitions of supposed Union Infantry and Artillery soldiers have been reported and photographed over time in the general area, especially on or around Devil's Den. Lon
Bigfoot and Eastern Cousins
Bigfoot Nation: The History of Sasquatch in North America
The Bigfoot Book: The Encyclopedia of Sasquatch, Yeti and Cryptid Primates
Beasts of Britain
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