General John F Reynolds, USA, Oak Witness Tree Rings

Born on September 21, 1820, John Fulton Reynolds was a career United States Army officer and one of the most respected senior commanders during the American Civil War. By the time of the Battle of Gettysburg, Reynolds was a Brigadier General and on the morning of July 1, 1863, commanded the left wing of the Army of the Potomac, with operational control of the I, III and XI Corps as well of General John Buford’s cavalry division. Earlier that morning Buford occupied the town of Gettysburg in response to two Confederate brigades of infantry arriving from the west.
Buford sete up light defensive lines in front of the Confederates to delay their advance until Reynolds would arrive with the I Corp of Union infantry. Upon his arrival Reynolds rode out ahead of his troops to meet with Buford to discuss strategy. As Reynolds was supervising the placement of the 2nd Wisconsin, he was said to have yelled, “Forward men forward for God’s sake and drive those
fellows out of those woods!” At that moment he fell from his horse having received a wound near the base of the rear of his head and died instantly. The loss of General Reynolds was keenly felt by the army. He was loved by his men and respected by his peers. It is said he turned down the command of the Army of the Potomac by President Lincoln who ultimately chose Gordon Meade.
Reynolds’ body was immediately transported from Gettysburg to Taneytown, MD, and ultimately to his birthplace in Lancaster County, PA, where he was buried on July 4, 1863. Befitting his importance to the Union and to Pennsylvania, he is memorialized by three statues in Gettysburg National Military park. There is another in front of Philadelphia City Hall.