"Tree Frogs"

[Gettysburg Greg]

In Edwin Forbes original sketch to the Confederate attack on Culp's Hill at Gettysburg, he included some Confederate snipers firing from high in the trees. When I originally made a similar post some of the comments challenged whether there were actually Rebs in the trees. Since that post, I have read antidotal accounts of early tourists finding dead soldiers up in trees. Also, I have recently been reading Scott Hartwig's new book on Antietam and he recounted a number of times that Union officers were picked off by Confederates in trees. Therefore, based on Forbes' reputation for accuracy in his sketches, eye-witness accounts from early battlefield visitors, and the accounts from the great Scott Hartwig in his new book, I believe that the story of the "tree frogs" is absolutely accurate. I will include Forbes' Culp's Hill sketch that shows two trees with two tree frogs each.

 

[Jim in Wisconsin]

How could those men have climbed those tall trees that don't have any branches below them? Carrying a rifle and ammo? I suppose you could just take a length of rope with you and let it down to have someone tie your equipment.
The sketch shows men wearing their field equipment, I would think they would have taken that stuff off first.

 

[LoyaltyOfDogs]

How could those men have climbed those tall trees that don't have any branches below them? Carrying a rifle and ammo? I suppose you could just take a length of rope with you and let it down to have someone tie your equipment.
The sketch shows men wearing their field equipment, I would think they would have taken that stuff off first.

Did they use climbing spikes?

 

[Peace Society]

I read about a young fellow in NYC Central Park who could run up trees without any equipment to help him climb. (Not literally run, but able to climb like a squirrel or cat)

 

[gjpratt]

In Edwin Forbes original sketch to the Confederate attack on Culp's Hill at Gettysburg, he included some Confederate snipers firing from high in the trees. When I originally made a similar post some of the comments challenged whether there were actually Rebs in the trees. Since that post, I have read antidotal accounts of early tourists finding dead soldiers up in trees. Also, I have recently been reading Scott Hartwig's new book on Antietam and he recounted a number of times that Union officers were picked off by Confederates in trees. Therefore, based on Forbes' reputation for accuracy in his sketches, eye-witness accounts from early battlefield visitors, and the accounts from the great Scott Hartwig in his new book, I believe that the story of the "tree frogs" is absolutely accurate. I will include Forbes' Culp's Hill sketch that shows two trees with two tree frogs each.
View attachment 520791

I'm persuaded.

 

[infomanpa]

How could those men have climbed those tall trees that don't have any branches below them? Carrying a rifle and ammo? I suppose you could just take a length of rope with you and let it down to have someone tie your equipment.
The sketch shows men wearing their field equipment, I would think they would have taken that stuff off first.

Since these are simply drawngs and not photographs, I'm thinking that the actual trees would have had some kind of branches to grab hold of.

 

[RedRover]

I recall reading an account of the Battle of Chickamauga, on September 20, Battery M, 1st Illinois Light Artillery on the far right flank of Thomas's line, dealt great destruction to the Confederate attacks towards the end of the battle. It was noted some of the rebs climbed tall trees to get a better shot at the cannoneers...

Immediately after the battle, General Forrest is said to have climbed a lofty tree to get a look at the federal's withdrawal toward Chattanooga...

 

[RedRover]

Since these are simply drawngs and not photographs, I'm thinking that the actual trees would have had some kind of branches to grab hold of.

Don't need branches necessarily... as demonstrated at 1:45 of this video...

 

[Nathan Stuart]

That's a great sketch of the terrain faced.

Thought the artist placed the tree-mounted riflemen so highly in these trees for 'effect.' But it's difficult to comprehend how in reality these perched shooters (with their weapons and gear) could have ascended the trees shown to such heights, especially without there being any branches on the tree trunks below these firing positions. If the lower tree branches were cut down or broken by artillery fire, there is no evidence of fallen tree branches shown laying on the ground below.

Also, from what I've read, specialist marksmen very rarely operated in pairs from the same tree (unlike what appears), for obvious risk minimization reasons.

 

[rpkennedy]

There would have been branches on the trees before the battle but many of them were shot off during the fighting. Corporal James Hyde of the 137th New York wrote, "The limbs were cut from the trees, and the trees were pushed up as much as if each had been a target for many months. On some trees there was not a piece of bark left as large as your hand...". Gottfried quotes this passage in his Brigades of Gettysburg, page 392.

Confederates in the trees makes some sense, especially at the northern end of the Confederate battle line. From Rock Creek to the top of upper Culp's Hill, the elevation change is something like 150 feet. Getting some elevation to fire over the Federal breastworks is not a terrible idea, except for the fact that there was a veritable sheet of lead coming from the top of the hill.

Ryan

 

[gc45]

Great cartoons. I agree this happened. What I want is to know is; how they loaded their squirrel guns way up there? could not have beeb easy.

 

[Nathan Stuart]

There would have been branches on the trees before the battle but many of them were shot off during the fighting. Corporal James Hyde of the 137th New York wrote, "The limbs were cut from the trees, and the trees were pushed up as much as if each had been a target for many months. On some trees there was not a piece of bark left as large as your hand...". Gottfried quotes this passage in his Brigades of Gettysburg, page 392.

Confederates in the trees makes some sense, especially at the northern end of the Confederate battle line. From Rock Creek to the top of upper Culp's Hill, the elevation change is something like 150 feet. Getting some elevation to fire over the Federal breastworks is not a terrible idea, except for the fact that there was a veritable sheet of lead coming from the top of the hill.

Ryan

Thanks for the elaborations.

Can readily accept the explanation of the treatment of these tree limbs, as well as the riflemen being elevated in trees to gain better aims.

But still fail to see how these perched shooters (with their gear) could have actually ascended those bare trunks to these lofty tree heights shown (as evidenced in this particular sketched scene).

 

[Gettysburg Greg]

Great cartoons. I agree this happened. What I want is to know is; how they loaded their squirrel guns way up there? could not have beeb easy.

These "cartoons" are the closest we can get to actual photos during the fighting. Both Forbes and Waud were well known for their accuracy in their sketches.

 

[Rhea Cole]

If you are not familiar with the special correspondent artists who made the drawings that Lesly's Illustrated & Harper's Weekly l's prints were made from, the Becker Collection will be a revelation.

Nearly 300 of the drawings submitted by elite illustrators are preserved here. Not only were these men elite craftsmen, they were highly accurate observers. Embedded with the troops, the artists showed the soldiers their drawings to their subjects. Little details of equipment & scenes were adjusted based on that expert input.

As was said up thread, these drawings atre as close to action photographs as we are ever going to have of the Civil War.

Browse Items · The Becker Collection

 

[Rhea Cole]

There is no better answer to the question of how they climbed trees during the Civil War. "The Crow's Nest" a 60 foot tall signal station:

Link:

The Crows Nest Signal Stations

mediakron.bc.edu

 

[Rhea Cole]

These "cartoons" are the closest we can get to actual photos during the fighting. Both Forbes and Waud were well known for their accuracy in their sketches.

Agreed, Winslow Homer's "The Sharpshooter " was drawn from life. His drawing was used to make a woodblock engraving & a painting. We also have Homer's account clambering up to look through the sniper's scope himself. We not only have illustration & painting, we have Homer's reaction to the experience. Hard to find a more documented real time experience:

The Army of the Potomac--A Sharp-Shooter on Picket Duty

Winslow Homer created an image of a Union sharpshooter while working as an artist-correspondent for Harper's Weekly during the Civil War. The soldier looks through the sight of a telescopic rifle as he searches for a target.

americanart.si.edu

Winslow Homer - Sharpshooter - American - The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Met presents over 5,000 years of art from around the world for everyone to experience and enjoy.

www.metmuseum.org

 

[Nathan Stuart]

Below is the classic depiction by illustrator Walton Taber of the tree-perched 'Confederate Sharpshooter'.
(Source- 'The Century illustrated Magazine', Vol. 30, 1885, May-Oct, at p.130)

 

[Scott1967]

I'm not so sure while climbing a tree would certainly give you a better viewpoint and I don't doubt it did happen the advantages would be negated by the awkwardness of reloading and balancing unless your strapped to the tree not to mention you stand out like a sore thumb with black powder.

The vegetation at Gettysburg was a lot more sparse than it is now in 1863 you could see through most of the woods especially Culps Hill , I have read in a number of accounts from other wars the purpose of putting men in trees was to waste the ammunition of the enemy but the effectiveness of men the trees was negligible.

 

[rpkennedy]

I'm not so sure while climbing a tree would certainly give you a better viewpoint and I don't doubt it did happen the advantages would be negated by the awkwardness of reloading and balancing unless your strapped to the tree not to mention you stand out like a sore thumb with black powder.

The vegetation at Gettysburg was a lot more sparse than it is now in 1863 you could see through most of the woods especially Culps Hill , I have read in a number of accounts from other wars the purpose of putting men in trees was to waste the ammunition of the enemy but the effectiveness of men the trees was negligible.

I agree with you on the effectiveness of the tree-climbers. But I also see why some men might want to gain some height.

Ryan

 

[Rhea Cole]

I agree with you on the effectiveness of the tree-climbers. But I also see why some men might want to gain some height.

Ryan

Agreed, It would be worthwhile to examine the ubiquitous treetop signal stations & signal towers. Getting up high was essential:

Signal Towers and Trees

This page is currently under revision 09/15/22

www.petersburgproject.org