February 01, 2013

The old adage that a picture is worth a thousand words definitely applies to the view from Little Round Top. At the far bottom is the “Valley of Death” at the base of Little Round Top; the marshland in the center left is that of the “Slaughter Pen” and Plum Run valley, and the road running horizontally through the bottom center of the photo is Warren Avenue. The stone structure is the old restroom that has now been removed.

Triangular Field is visible in the top center; this is where the Texans of Hood’s Division, as well as other determined Southern warriors, came across to the rocks. Devil’s Den sprawls in center like a mysterious rock palace from ages past.  One of the large rocks across the road from Devil’s Den (above and to the right of the restroom) is the famous “Elephant Rock.” The blacktop road is Sickles Avenue. I believe the white barn in the top left belongs to the Michael Bushman farm, though the John Slyder farm is located in this area as well.

The ridge in the far distance is Warfield Ridge . . . if you squint, you’ll notice a tiny white dot at the top far right of the photo. This is the Arkansas State Memorial (Arkansans were part of Hood’s Division also). Though they are not visible in this view, the Texas State Memorial and the monument to Hood’s Texas Brigade are located between the two stretches of woodland in the top center of the photo.

**HONORED TODAY**

PVT. WILLIAM BAIRD CONLEY

Co. F, 17^th Mississippi Infantry

Born April 01, 1843 --- Died July 02, 1863 at age 20

Pvt. Conley was buried at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, Virginia. There is a “William B. Conley” in the 1860 census who is listed as being born in South Carolina but currently living in Marshall, Mississippi. He is the son of Andrew and Ellen Conley. This is probably the correct William.


(c) 2013 Skies of Blue and Gray