FAQ & Historical Links
Witness Trees are those that stood during the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863. Though it is documented that at least one hundred, if not more, Witness Trees remain standing on the battlefield today, it is uncertain whether any wood from these trees will eventually be available to Gettysburg Sentinels. The Witness Tree wood used for our products has been legally acquired from third parties, including the Gettysburg Foundation.
To learn more about these trees and their locations, we've partnered with Peter Lukacs, the leading expert on Gettysburg Witness Trees. You can find the first book in his Gettysburg Witness Tree series here.
Our Witness Trees include:
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Gettysburg Address Honey Locust
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Abraham Lincoln's Sycamore
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General John Buford's Oak
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General James Longstreet's Oak
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Spangler Spring's Walnut
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Bloody Wheatfield Oak
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Colonel Charles Costner's Oak
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Chaplain Horatio Howell's Linden
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Camp Letterman's Oak*
* Still standing today
What is a Witness Tree?
Battlefield Trees are those that were not standing at the time of the Battle of Gettysburg. As with Witness trees, the wood used for our products has been legally acquired from third parties.
Our Battlefield Trees Include:
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Pickett's Charge Oak
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Pickett's Charge Cherry
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Pickett's Charge Maple
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Pickett's Charge Walnut
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South Battlefield Oak
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Codori Thicket Cedar
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High Watermark Oak
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Weikert Farm Walnut
What is a Battlefield Tree?
Absolutely not. Trees are removed from the Gettysburg Battlefield for the following reasons:
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Preservation. Diseased trees are often treated at which time branches may be removed by professional arborists as part of the treatment process.
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Death. After hundreds of years, the trees ultimately die and are removed by professionals.
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Acts of nature. Mother nature sometimes plays a roll during storms. The downed trees are removed by professionals. The Longstreet tree is a great example.
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Interpretation. It is the Park Service's mission to interpret the Battle of Gettysburg. Often, trees grow today in spots where they did not exist in 1863, making it difficult for the Park Service to fulfill their charge. These trees are removed by professionals.
Gettysburg Sentinels has acquired nearly all of its wood from the arborists and tree removal professionals that have been contracted by the National Park Service and private parties. Had we not acquired it, the harvested wood would be destroyed and gone forever.