Wheat in the Wheatfield

[infomanpa]

I have heard that the wheat was chest high during the fighting in the Wheatfield on July 2. When I visit the battlefield during anniversaries of the battle, I notice that the wheat is only about 2 feet high. Are there any farmers here that would know if it's possible that wheat could actually be chest high so early in the summer?

 

[Pollaco]

We don't grow wheat in South Texas but I have never heard of "chest high" wheat. Even 2' is a tall as I've ever seen.

 

[WScott]

It may have been chest high on the 4' drummer boy but I have never heard of wheat getting to 4' in July, lived in the country in the NY / Penn. area for about 12 years.

 

[JeffFromSyracuse]

Not sure what they plant in Gettysburg now, but I'm pretty sure winter wheat was the crop of choice in Gettysburg in 1863. Planted in October, dormant for the winter, ready for harvest in June or July.

 

[Tom Elmore]

According to a google search, "Wheat attains an average height of 4' [feet]"

Ward's brigade was the first to trample down the wheat (at least the northern half of it) around 2:30 p.m. on July 2, prior to taking up its battle position anchored on Devil's Den:

"After crossing one or two fields we came to the famous Wheatfield … the wheat breast high and ready to be cut – but we marched through and over it in line of battle, and on looking back not a stalk could be found, for it was all trodden out of sight" – Sergeant J. Harvey Hanford, Company B, 124th New York, National Tribune, September 24, 1885, p. 3.

 

[ami]

the johnson grass that grows behind my house is about chest high by early june. the farmer cuts it for hay usually in june. it looks kinda like wheat with the tassle and everything on it. was wheat actually grown there? or maybe it is a misnomer?

 

[JeffFromSyracuse]

the johnson grass that grows behind my house is about chest high by early june. the farmer cuts it for hay usually in june. it looks kinda like wheat with the tassle and everything on it. was wheat actually grown there? or maybe it is a misnomer?

Farmers try to knock down their hay as early as they can to get a second cutting (or third, depending on how far south you live) in before fall.

 

[James N.]

This doesn't look like wheat to me, but this is how it looked during a visit in September, 2017 during our CWT Gathering or Muster there.

 

[infomanpa]

View attachment 409385
This doesn't look like wheat to me, but this is how it looked during a visit in September, 2017 during our CWT Gathering or Muster there.

They don't plant wheat in the Wheatfield. It's just grass. However, there are many locations where parts of the battlefield are leased for certain crops, wheat being one of them. In was in those locations where I observed the 2 foot wheat on the anniversary date.

 

[Rebforever]

Rye will grow 4 ft. I was raised on a farm with experience shocking wheat and never saw that over 2ft.

 

[Kurt G]

Based on a bit of internet research , 19th century wheat reached 4 feet . Modern varieties were bred to reduce stalk height and are generally 18" to 2 feet tall.

 

[Rebforever]

Based on a bit of internet research , 19th century wheat reached 4 feet . Modern varieties were bred to reduce stalk height and are generally 18" to 2 feet tall.

Short than that in western fields I have seen.

 

[GwilymT]

What was the average height of a soldier in 1863? If they're averaging 5'6", 4' wheat would be about chest high with some embellishment.

 

[bankerpapaw]

We don't grow wheat in South Texas but I have never heard of "chest high" wheat. Even 2' is a tall as I've ever seen.

I agree. I have never seen chest high wheat.

 

[Hudson Valley Yank]

View attachment 409385
This doesn't look like wheat to me, but this is how it looked during a visit in September, 2017 during our CWT Gathering or Muster there.

James N,

That's how I remember it. The last time that I was there was September 2017 and it looks like you had that fine clear and cooler weather that was not period correct but very enjoyable for touring the battlefield.

Bill

 

[dennmorr]

When I was growing up in the 50's our wheat grew to about 36 to 40 inches. Any heavy rain with wind would cause it to "lodge" and fall flat to the ground which would make it harder to harvest with machines. New breeds are much shorter.

 

[DixieRifles]

When I was growing up in the 50's our wheat grew to about 36 to 40 inches.

That may be a clue. I know nothing about wheat crop— but I do know some about cotton and it development over the years. In the 1960's, my Dad grew cotton plants that were reaching 6 feet tall. Then they realized the plant spent more energy ( and $) growing the stalk and not the crop. They also changed spacing and number of rows and empty rows.

Maybe wheat grown in that area and that time was taller.

 

[James N.]

James N,

That's how I remember it. The last time that I was there was September 2017 and it looks like you had that fine clear and cooler weather that was not period correct but very enjoyable for touring the battlefield.

Bill

Too bad you weren't a member of CWT yet - In both September 2016 and 2017 Gettysburg was the location for our first two now-annual CWT Gatherings or Musters and approximately 30 - 35 of our members attended both. The second one we returned to Gettysburg specifically to participate in a motor coach tour of Lee's retreat route to the Potomac conducted by member author Eric Wittenberg who also took us on a visit to East Cavalry Battlefield. Other guides and members described other areas of the battlefield. Autumns that have followed have taken our groups to Chickamauga in 2018; Vicksburg and related sites in 2019; and despite the "pandemic" last October to Shiloh. This October we're going to Antietam, Harper's Ferry, and South Mountain if you care to tag along!

 

[infomanpa]

Too bad you weren't a member of CWT yet - In both September 2016 and 2017 Gettysburg was the location for our first two now-annual CWT Gatherings or Musters and approximately 30 - 35 of our members attended both. The second one we returned to Gettysburg specifically to participate in a motor coach tour of Lee's retreat route to the Potomac conducted by member author Eric Wittenberg

Even though I was there in the CWT event in 2017, I missed the Wittenberg tour. That's why I signed up for his repeat performance next month.

 

[infomanpa]

Based on a bit of internet research , 19th century wheat reached 4 feet . Modern varieties were bred to reduce stalk height and are generally 18" to 2 feet tall.

But what time of the year would it have reached it's maximum height? Since the battle was fought in early summer, I would think that it would not have been that high yet.