The Bloody Wheatfield Oak Witness Tree Shadow Box

The area that became known as The Bloody Wheatfield was owned by the Rose family at the time of the Battle of Gettysburg.  The fighting here late on the second day of the battle consisted of numerous attacks and counterattacks over several hours. Nineteen brigades fought for this 20-acre position.  The first engagement in the Wheatfield was that of Anderson’s brigade of Confederates attacking the 17th Maine of Trobriand. The 17th Maine held its position behind a low stone wall with the assistance of cannon fire, and Anderson’s med fell back. Trobriand late wrote, “I have never seen any men fight with equal obstinacy.”  By 5:30 p.m., the first of Confederate General Kershaw’s regiment neared the Rose farmhouse, Kershaw’s men placed great pressure on the 17th Maine, but it continued to hold.  For some reason, however, union General Barnes withdrew his understrength division about 300 yards to the north.  The 17th Maine had to follow suit, and the Confederates seized the Wheatfield.  Later, Union General Hancock sent the 1st Division under General Caldwell from its reserve position behind Cemetery Ridge.  It arrived about 6:00 p.m. and cleared the Wheatfield pushing Kershaw’s men back to the edge of Rose Woods and so the Wheatfield returned to the Union.  However, Union control was short lived having exhausted their ammunition and the position collapsed, but not without fierce and often hand to hand fighting.  The Wheatfield was once again in control of the Confederates.  Soon thereafter, additional Union troops arrived.  The 2nd Division of the V Corps, under Brigadier General Romeyn B. Ayres, known as the ‘Regular Division’ entered the fray, but were quickly flanked by Confederate troops and had to retreat to the relative safety of nearby Little Round Top.  The final Confederate assault through the Wheatfield occurred about 7:30 p.m.  As they neared the northern shoulder of Little Round Top they were me with a counterattack from the 3rd Division of the Pennsylvania Reserves.  The brigade of Colonel William McCandless, including a company from Gettysburg, drove the exhausted Confederates back beyond the east side of the field.  The Bloody Wheatfield remained quiet for the rest of the battle. But it took a heavy toll on the men who traded its position that day. The Confederates had fought with six brigades against thirteen (somewhat smaller) Union brigades. Of the 20,644 from both sides, about 30% were killed, wounded or missing.