Civil War History - Gettysburg ForumGettysburg! It's not just a National Park. It's a Civil War Battlefield. For some it's historic and storied past are almost an obsession! All related discussions are welcome here!
William, I believe you are referring to "the copse of tree". Some of them were there at the time of the battle. These are the only trees I am aware of surrounded by a wrought iron fence. At the time of Pickett's Charge, they were probably nothing but a point of reckoning for those coming the mile or so across. (Still doesn't seem like a mile to me.)
I heartily agree about the Adams County Historical Society being worth a visit, and the staff are some of the most cooperative people you could meet. They were just recently the benficiaries of a State upgrade and were able to purchase the land formely occupied by the small prison on Carlisle, just north of town. The building is going to be demolished and a new home for the historical Society will be built, including a bigger viewing area for the collection and a new records search service.
BTW: Two of the "witness trees" on Middle street were cut down Friday. They were not in very good health and a large branch fell recently, onto a parked car. Someone counted the rings on the stumps and they may have only been 80 years old, and not "witness trees".
william42,
I agree with yankeewoman that the trees you are thinking about are in fact the Copse of Trees. The biggest tree in the center of the grove fell a couple of weeks ago and took out a section of the fence. It narrowly missed both the 15th MA and recently repaired 20th MA plaques to the south of the trees.
Whether those trees were actually the focal point of the PPT assault is another of the hotly debated topics here. Recently compiled information may in fact indicate that the actual point of attack was Ziegler Grove, about 300 yards to the north. Yet another newly rejuvenated theory is that there actually was no point of attack and it was simply a full front assault, possibly in echelon from south to north.
I had the exteme pleasure of walking the path of Pickett's Division on the 140th anniversary with a gentleman that was introduced as the last remaining son of a veteran of the assault. He was 86 and daddy was 86 when he was conceived so the math works out.
Happy Easter,
TomH
(stuck indoors and bored on a rainy and cold afternoon in the Burg)
Tom, If your that bored get in your Lincoln Town Car and drive real slow through the park for me......lol After the big dinner we had I think I will take a nap.
__________________ "I want to bury myself in a den of books. I want to saturate myself with the elements of which they are made and breathe their atmosphere until I am of it."
--Lew Wallace, 1885
Actually the towncar is on the lot over at the Ford Dealership that is in the middle of the 11th Corps line. There is a limited time for viewing because they got their eviction notice and have to relocate shortly. I, for one, will be glad to see that one go.
Tomh and Yankeewoman: Thank you for your replies. "Copse of trees" sounds familiar so I'm sure that is what I saw. I suppose they are all "witness trees" even though they may not be the focal point of Picketts charge. It was awesome for me to gaze at them in 1987 and to ponder that they had actually stood in that very place on that fateful day, and were still alive. From what you say, they apparently are still yet standing, some of them anyway, which is amazing to me. I hope to get back there eventually while they're still alive. Unfortunately that won't be happening for quite some time. The copse, along with Little Round Top, and the cemetery are still vivid in my mind. Thanks again for the update.
Hate to be the bearer of bad tidings but none of the trees in the copse are witness trees. The one that fell may have been as much as 100 years old but that was it.
The only "witness trees" that I have heard of on the park are on McPhersons Ridge, the National Cemetery and Culp's Hill. There are also 3 in town on Baltimore St across from Farnsworth House.
Tom, is it my understanding from your posts that the NPS is trying to make the entire battlefield look as though it did in July of 1863? Sounds like it to me. That would be awesome. I read about the dismantling of the tower a few years ago, and you just mentioned the relocation of the auto dealership. If that's the case, how long is it expected before they complete the job? Thanks.... Terry
They are going to restore the park appearence as much as is practical. Some things just cannot be changed (the school athletic fields are still going to be in the middle of the CS assault on East Cemetery Hill) and the tree clearing is also subject to the local environmental concerns. The park sustains a very diverse ecosystem and some decisions about restoration have to take a back seat to those concerns.
From an interpretive history standpoint, the changes are remarkable. From what I understand they are about 7 or 8 years from completion.
Goundbreaking is scheduled for the new visitor center and the removal of the cyclorama building and ranger station for the Ziegler grove and Cemetery hill will be a huge change.
Thanks Tom. Do you know if the majority of the funds used for the restoration are from places like non-profit battlefield preservation organizations, or are public funds from places like the NPS also being used? I would be interested to know. Thanks..
Terry
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