Devil's Den (game)

Devil's Den: Hood's Assault at Gettysburg is a board game that represents the fighting to control the key Devil's Den terrain feature during the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg of the American Civil War. The wargame was written by Leonard Millman and Dr. David Martin, and was first published in 1980 by Operational Studies Group (OSG).

Located at the southern tip of the Gettysburg Battlefield on Houck's Ridge, the boulder-strewn Devil's Den proved to be a weak spot in the Union battle line, and was overrun by Confederate troops from Alabama, Texas and Arkansas after fierce fighting. If Union General Daniel E. Sickles had not disobeyed orders to move his troops out and past Devils Den, Devils Den would probably not be as famous as it is today. However, the neighboring Little Round Top remained in Union hands throughout the battle.

The game Devil's Den is a company/battalion-level tactical simulation of these Confederate assaults, and features a detailed 22"x35" full-color hex map of Houck's Ridge, Plum Run Valley, the Rose Woods, and Little Round Top. Four hundred cardstock counters represent elements of each infantry regiment and artillery battery that was present for the actual fighting, as well as game playing aids such as morale markers, out of ammunition counters, etc. The boxed game also includes a Study Folder (with historical commentary on the actual battle), a Rules Folder, and two six-sided dice.

Another wargame representing the same sector of Gettysburg was later published by Avalon Hill. A miniature wargaming Devil's Den game is featured in Enduring Valor: Gettysburg in Miniature.