Gettysburg “Witness Tree” Damaged
By Wyatt Earp | August 10, 2008
The Civil War claimed another victim last week.
It was there when Pickett’s soldiers made their famous charge. It was there when Lincoln gave his address.
On Thursday afternoon, a honey locust tree that had stood as one of the last living testaments to the Battle of Gettysburg cracked in a storm and crashed to earth.
Standing on Cemetery Hill, 150 feet from the platform on which the Gettysburg Address was given, it was one of the last of what are termed “witness trees” to the one of the most devastating of all Civil War battles, fought from July 1 to 3, 1863. (The Philadelphia Inquirer)
Living history struck down. I’m no tree-hugging hippie, but this is a damned shame.
Topics: Philly | 5 Comments »
That is a shame.
Part of the wall arch in Utah has crumbled to the ground, too.
Well, to someone like me, for whom Gettysburg is almost a second home, hearing this news is very depressing.
I hope they find a way to “preserve” it and make something respectful out of it.
At least it was nature and not some guy running into it with a car or something.
RT – I saw the story about the arch in Utah. How long before the hippies blame global warming?
GroovyVic – I thought of you when I read the story. Sad.
Deanna – Agreed. I’m sure they’re thinking of something. Cutting it apart would be a shame.
Doghouse – Yeah. Then we would have to beat the guy over the head with a tree branch.