Just to the east and south of the Devil’s Den, Plum Run descends through area covered with small boulders.  Sometimes described as a gorge this acre of land was of little note prior to July 2, 1863.      

As Hood’s Division attacked the left of the Union army its flank initially sat upon the rocks of Devil’s Den. The shortest path around that flank led directly up Plum Run through the gorge. Two Alabama regiments, the 44^th and 48^th headed in that direction while the rest of Law’s Brigade filtered through the woods towards Little Round Top. First to arrive, the 44 ^th Alabama was physically split by the rocks of Devil’s Den . Their Left moved up the south end of Houck’s Ridge and the right under Lt.  Col. John Jones-was forced into the 75 yards of moon like terrain  between Devils Den and the Round Top Woods. There the 4th Maine confronted them.

This ground remained contested for the next hour and a half, and eventually casualties littered the area. The ground remained between the lines for two days and the Confederates were unable to recover their casualties. Within a few days photographer Alexander Gardner arrived and chronicled the gruesome scene as “The Slaughter Pen.” 

Here we see in the foreground the Jones detachment of the 44th Alabama as they reach the top of the gorge. Off to the left shooters from  Company  F of the 4^th Maine harass the Alabamans from the Rocks of Devil’s Den. (they would shortly be captured by the remainder of the 44^th )  The rest of the 4^th Maine stands astride Plum Rum but  are threatened by the 48^th Alabama who has just erupted out of the woods to the right.  In the background the 4^th and 5^th Texas are making their initial attack on Vincent’s Brigade on the slopes of Little Round Top