A Discovery on Little Round Top

There are still secrets to be uncovered from the Battle of Gettysburg.

A nearly 160-year-old artillery shell was discovered on Wednesday, February 6 on Little Round Top, causing a few hours of unease for the crews who were working on the reconstruction project on the historic rocky hill.  

The elongated shell was discovered to have been present at the battle on July 1-3, 1863. It is not yet known if it was fired from Confederate cannon toward the Union position on the hill and simply failed to explode – as many of the Southern ordnance failed at times to explode on impact – or if it was an unfired piece from the 5th U.S. Battery D, commanded by Lieutenant Charles Hazlett, which was positioned at the summit of Little Round Top on July 2, 1863.

Lieutenant Hazlett was killed in the battle on Little Round Top, apparently shot by one of the Confederate troops situated in Devil’s Den, 500 yards to the west of the hill.

Whatever its provenance, the shell was still live and posed a danger to the workers atop the hill. Since last summer, Little Round Top has been closed to the public for significant reconstruction on the famous battle site. A plan to reduce erosion, a design to make the hill to better resemble its 1863 appearance, and the creation of a larger parking area for its many visitors are all part of the long-term project.

Park roads around Little Round Top (including Ayres Avenue, Crawford Avenue, and a portion of the Wheatfield Road) were closed for a time as a bomb squad from Virginia, trained to disarm historic ordnance missiles, was summoned to safely dispose of the piece.

Even the passing of centuries does not render Civil War artillery ordnance harmless. The gunpowder contained within the metallic outer casing is still volatile, and it was a wise move to ensure that the shell was disposed of properly, to ensure that it would never harm anyone.

 While Little Round Top remains closed to the public for the year, there are other areas of the battlefield which are open. It is wise to stay on the trails and watch one’s step. Without a doubt, there are myriad historic items still beneath the sod – and it is best to leave them in peace.

Source: Gettysburg National Military Park