FAQ & Historical Links
Witness Trees are those trees that stood at the time of the Battle of Gettysburg. There are believed to be about twenty remaining Witness trees today. It is unknown if any wood from these trees will ultimately be available to Gettysburg Sentinels. The Witness tree wood used for our products has been legally acquired from third parties, including the Gettysburg Foundation.
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. Had we not acquired it, the harvested wood would be destroyed and gone forever.