Battle of Gettysburg 'Witness Tree' Downed in Storm

[JohnW in E.TN]

Battle of Gettysburg 'Witness Tree' Downed in Storm

Saturday , August 09, 2008

GETTYSBURG, Pa. —

Standing just 150 feet from the platform on which President Abraham Lincoln delivered his most famous speech, one of the few remaining "witness trees" to the Battle of Gettysburg has been severely damaged by a storm, National Park Service officials said.

The huge honey locust tree on Cemetery Hill fell Thursday evening.
"The top of it is totally broken off, and [the storm] severely damaged 70 to 80 percent of the tree," Gettysburg National Military Park spokeswoman Jo Sanders said. "That means there's not a whole lot left of it. But it didn't kill the tree."
The tree, which stood on the right side of the Union lines, "was there as a silent witness — to the battle, to the aftermath, to the burials, to the dedication of the cemetery," park historian John Heiser said.
"I have no doubt that Union soldiers sat under it for all three days of the battle," he said.
Park maintenance officials will assess what to do with the remains of the tree.
"When it's something this bad, it's highly doubtful that a tree like that can survive," Heiser said.
Heiser said he knows of only three other witness trees that still stand in the heart of the battlefield.
"It's a shame when you lose the last living entities on this battlefield," he said. "Nothing lives forever, unfortunately."


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John W.

[bankerpapaw]

Originally Posted by JohnW in E.TN

Battle of Gettysburg 'Witness Tree' Downed in Storm

Saturday , August 09, 2008

GETTYSBURG, Pa. —

Standing just 150 feet from the platform on which President Abraham Lincoln delivered his most famous speech, one of the few remaining "witness trees" to the Battle of Gettysburg has been severely damaged by a storm, National Park Service officials said.

The huge honey locust tree on Cemetery Hill fell Thursday evening.
"The top of it is totally broken off, and [the storm] severely damaged 70 to 80 percent of the tree," Gettysburg National Military Park spokeswoman Jo Sanders said. "That means there's not a whole lot left of it. But it didn't kill the tree."
The tree, which stood on the right side of the Union lines, "was there as a silent witness — to the battle, to the aftermath, to the burials, to the dedication of the cemetery," park historian John Heiser said.
"I have no doubt that Union soldiers sat under it for all three days of the battle," he said.
Park maintenance officials will assess what to do with the remains of the tree.
"When it's something this bad, it's highly doubtful that a tree like that can survive," Heiser said.
Heiser said he knows of only three other witness trees that still stand in the heart of the battlefield.
"It's a shame when you lose the last living entities on this battlefield," he said. "Nothing lives forever, unfortunately."


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John W.

John W., I read about the Witness Tree. How sad. Man, if that tree could talk - what stories we would hear.

[Karen Lips]

This is heartsickening.

[RoadDog]

At least it wasn't something caused by people.

[hoosier]

I recall hearing on the local TV news a couple of weeks ago that Heiser's initial assessment appeared to have been overly pessimistic and that the tree was, in fact, likely to survive.

Anyone else know if this is true?

[tomh]

hoosier,

The original "assessment" was actually some comments made by people who really were not qualified to determine the extent of the damage. John Heiser's comment is the most quoted and really was a reaction to how bad it looked missing most of the upper two thirds of the tree. Once the park botanists had a chance to evaluate the damage it was announced that there is a very good possibility that it will survive.

This is not the first time that people have prematurely pronounced that old giant dead.

TomH

[Elennsar]

May it not be the last. It would be nice to see it still standing for Gettysburg's bicentental.

[Glorybound]

John W. thanks for posting that story. And TomH thanks for that glimmer of hope.

Respectfully,
Leland