Visitors standing near the Philip Snyder House, shown on the left, will now have a relatively unobstructed view of Devil’s Den and Rose’s Woods. Two houses across the street from the Snyder House were demolished last week. The demolition activity is shown in the right background. This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 4:45 PM on Friday, September 10, 2010.
The Civil War Preservation Trust recently raised money to assist the National Park Service in purchasing two acres along the Emmittsburg Road. The property contained some non-Civil War era structures, known as the Reaver Properties, which were removed last week.
In the foreground is a Timothy O’Sullivan photogaph taken of dead Confederates near Rose’s Woods, killed on July 2, 1863. In the center background on Seminary/Warfield Ridge is a barely visible, light-colored structure — the Philip Snyder House. This view was taken facing southwest on Sunday, July 5, 1863.
Here are the Reaver property structures before their demolition. The Emmitsburg Road is in front of the houses. Little Round Top is in the center background. Big Round Top is in the right background. This view, courtesy of the Civil War Preservation Trust, was taken facing east at approximately on Sunday, January 10, 2010.
Here are the remains of the structures on Friday afternoon. Little Round Top is in the left background. Big Round Top is in the right background. This view was taken facing east at approximately 4:45 PM on Friday, September 10, 2010.
To help pinpoint the location of the property, the Philip Snyder House is in the right background. The Arkansas Monument is out of view behind the house. The Emmitsburg Road is in the foreground. The car on the far left and on the Emmitsburg Road is passing a car on its right on West Confederate Avenue. This view was taken facing southwest at approximately 4:45 PM on Friday, September 10, 2010.
Looking northward up the Emmitsburg Road. The demolished houses are on the right. At the end of the Emmitsburg Road, in the left background, the road rises to some dark green trees located at the Sherfy Farm and the Peach Orchard. This view was facing northeast at approximately 4:45 PM on Friday, September 10, 2010.
We’ll take a short walk along the Emmitsburg Road and show you the progress. There are two outbuildings that have not yet been demolished. Big Round Top is in the right background. This view was facing east at approximately 4:45 PM on Friday, September 10, 2010.
One other positive biproduct of the destruction of the houses is that this utility pole can now be removed, and the lines can continue to be buried along the Emmitsburg Road. This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 4:45 PM on Friday, September 10, 2010.
This property with the houses intact was appraised for $400,000. This view was taken facing east at approximately 4:45 PM on Friday, September 10, 2010.
The National Park Service had only $300,000 set aside to purchase it. The owners of the property decided to settle for $375,000. This view was taken facing east at approximately 4:45 PM on Friday, September 10, 2010.
The Civil War Preservation Trust raised the extra $75,000 and the property was acquired. This view was taken facing east at approximately 4:45 PM on Friday, September 10, 2010.
Late in the afternoon of July 2, 1863, the 3rd Arkansas Regiment and the 1st Texas Regiment of Robertson’s Texas Brigade/Hood’s Division/Longstreet’s Corps crossed this property as they advanced towards Devil’s Den and Rose’s Woods, which would be out of sight in the left background. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 4:45 PM on Friday, September 10, 2010.
They were attacking towards the line of the United States’ Third Army Corps that had been advanced towards Devil’s Den, the Wheatfield, and the Peach Orchard. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 4:45 PM on Friday, September 10, 2010.
Soon following them across this property and in support were the 8th, 9th, 11th, and 59th Georgia regiments of George Anderson’s Brigade. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 4:45 PM on Friday, September 10, 2010.
The Confederates were hit by Union artillery in this area fired from Devil’s Den and the Peach Orchard before they were close enough to engage the Union infantry at Devil’s Den, Rose’s Woods, and the Wheatfield. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 4:45 PM on Friday, September 10, 2010.
The 3rd Arkansas suffered 182 casualties at Gettysburg, or 38% of its men engaged during the battle. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 4:45 PM on Friday, September 10, 2010.
The 1st Texas had 97 casualties, or 23% of its men engaged. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 4:45 PM on Friday, September 10, 2010.
Anderson’s Georgia Brigade suffered 722 casualties at Gettysburg, or 39% of its men engaged during the battle. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 4:45 PM on Friday, September 10, 2010.
A stereo view of the Rose Farm scene. This view, courtesy of the Library of Congress, was taken facing southwest at approximately on Sunday, July 5, 1863.