Lincoln Witness Tree

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Frank Bodani York Daily Record

June 11, 2019

GETTYSBURG — This ordinary tree, old and battered, is an astonishing survivor from another age.

Maybe no other has "seen" grander strokes of American history and then lived so long to memorialize them. 

This commonplace honey locust in the Soldiers' National Cemetery was a young but strong anchor during the Battle of Gettysburg. 

It also became a marker to arguably the nation's most famous speech.

And, even now, it defies logic to rally on. 

It is arguably the most iconic tree from the turning point of the Civil War.

Its humble existence defies its place in history: It held a key vantage point during the second day of fighting on July 2, 1863; four months later, it stood close to Abraham Lincoln during his Gettysburg Address. 

It is one of a dozen or so documented Civil War "witness trees" still alive in the national military park. But it is the lone survivor to Lincoln's s two-minute speech to dedicate the cemetery.

Though water-loving honey locusts usually do not live much more than 100 years, this one is approaching 170 on high ground in the cemetery.

Even more, it seemed doomed a decade ago after a wind storm sheared off much of its top. Park officials worried that what remained would prove unstable and pose a safety hazard to the thousands of tourists who walk nearby each year. 

But they gave it a chance. The tree proved more resilient than expected and has been re-growing its canopy, a little at a time, ever since.

"It's real surprising. It defies everything," said Bruce Kile, a retired forester with the state department of conservation and natural resources.

No matter that it looks misplaced among the dozens of towering, in-tact specimens guarding these manicured grounds. 

There is no plaque or marker denoting its place in history — a nod to protecting the solemnity of these trees.

"I think our national cemetery is the last piece of sacred ground in America," said John Heiser, an historian with the Gettysburg National Military Park.

"Battlefields, historic sites, we constantly change them, update them, sometimes manipulate them. (But) places where we bury our soldier dead make that ground something special.

"Maybe that's one reason this old boy decided to survive this long," he said, motioning to the tree.

In the early 1860s, what is now the national cemetery was but a cornfield bordered by pasture, scraggly brush and a small grove of unremarkable trees.

During the battle, a New Hampshire volunteer battery held the ground near the honey locust on the second day of fighting, Heiser said. Later that evening, Union Col. Samuel Carroll's brigade raced by the tree to drive back the Confederates from East Cemetery Hill.

Four months later, Lincoln took his place on a wood platform near the tree, which was maybe 10 to 15 years old at the time. Its leafless branches are captured in the background of the only photo of Lincoln from the day.

The cemetery grounds had just been roughly landscaped, which included clearing the corn field and grove of trees.

Only the honey locust remained, for reasons unknown.

"I like to say the witness trees are kind of like the monuments … When you touch that, you're touching something the veterans touched," Heiser said. "The tree is a real veteran of the battle."