Witness Trees – Sentinels of the Battlefields
“Once Civil War soldiers march on to their next battle, a witness tree remains as a biologically tenacious symbol of the past.
Confirmed witness trees are precious.”
Witness Trees
Witness trees are a living connection to the people and momentous events of the American past. They stand as mute observers of enormous change over time, linking numerous generations through their continued existence.
Witness Trees - Brompton - Fredericksburg - 1863
CVBT Witness Tree Protection Program
On one piece of preserved CVBT battlefield, the "Jackson Flank Attack1" parcel, there are Civil War witness trees, possibly up to eleven, which is an extremely rare amount in one location. Imagine what those trees saw while standing near the Orange Turnpike during that one day alone. Gen. Joseph Hooker rode by them to check on XI Corps troops and their line early that morning. That evening, as the attack commenced, some Federal soldiers fled precipitously, while others attempted to stem the power of the assault, including Medal of Honor recipient Capt. Hubert Dilger and his Ohio artillerists. Gen. Thomas Jonathan “Stonewall” Jackson also passed these trees, twice; once going east among the flow of his massive assault force, and later, after being wounded by his own troops going west to receive medical attention near Wilderness Tavern. These trees witnessed it all and should receive all the protection and care they can to help them survive and thrive as living connections to these momentous events.
CVBT Witness Trees - Chancellorsville Jackson Flank Attack
CVBT Witness Tree - Chancellorsville Jackson Flank Attack
Protecting CVBT Witness Trees
In an effort to help identify and protect these aged and admired timbers, organizations and governmental agencies have worked to ensure their safe and continued growth into the future so new generations can experience their power of time and place. Several elderly-arbor-care efforts at a number of historic sites and battlefields like Gettysburg, Antietam, Manassas, and Fredericksburg allow visitors to stand beside an actual living thing where history happened.
Caring for Witness Trees Does Not Come Without Expense.
Period checkups for tree health, nutrition treatments, and preventive maintenance trimming, along with lightning prevention apparatus and other care measures, by professional arborists, costs thousands of dollars to do properly and have a continuous annual cost as well.
Recently, an oak tree on one of CVBT’s Chancellorsville Flank Attack battlefield properties—estimated by arborists to be over 200 years old—fell victim to a powerful windstorm. While it is tragic to lose such a treasured veteran tree that witnessed the pivotal events of May 2, 1863, it also serves as a call to action.
Fallen CVBT Witness Tree - Chancellorsville Jackson Flank Attack
“A witness tree begins its life like any other tree. It sprouts. It grows. And then it’s thrust into the spotlight, playing an involuntary part in a significant historic event.” - Mike Yessis
Will you help us ensure the health of our surviving Chancellorsville Flank Attack witness trees so that they remain on the historic landscape for future generations?
We also plan to install markers designating each tree and what they witnessed.
Assist us today in making our goal of $20,000 and become part of the ongoing history on this battlefield.