Abraham Lincoln passed beneath this tree on November 19, 1863 as he rode to Cemetery Hill to give his Gettysburg Address. Lincoln and the rest of the procession would have been traveling from left to right, or north to south. This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 5:00 PM on Tuesday, November 18, 2008.
145 years ago today, on November 19, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln rode along Baltimore Street to say “a few appropriate remarks” at the Soldiers’ National Cemetery. One of the trees that he passed along Baltimore Street is still standing, a sycamore tree near Alumni Park. This tree also witnessed the Union retreat through the town the afternoon of July 1st, the Confederate attack on East Cemetery Hill, the evening of July 2nd, and constant skirmishing between both armies on all three days of the battle.
This view was taken by the Tyson Brothers on November 19, 1863 as a test before the parade made its appearance. Our tree is in the picture on the right (east) side of the Baltimore Pike. This view was taken facing north at approximately 11:30 AM on Thursday, November 19, 1863.
Here’s the same picture with an arrow pointing to the witness tree. This view was taken facing west on the afternoon of July 2, 1863.
Here is another Tyson shot taken from the previous location as the procession is turning from Baltimore Street onto the Emmitsburg Road (Steinwehr Avenue since 1890). This view was taken facing north at approximately 11:30 AM on Thursday, November 19, 1863.
Here is a photograph from approximately the same location. This view was taken facing north at approximately 5:00 PM on Tuesday, November 18, 2008.
We have placed another arrow pointing to our tree. Something that is noticeable to our very untrained eye: The tree still holds a lot of its leaves in mid-November in 1863 and 2008. This view was taken facing north at approximately 5:00 PM on Tuesday, November 18, 1863.
The tree, although taller today, holds roughly the same shape in 2008 as it did in 1863. With all of the power lines, trees being pruned, limbs naturally falling off, etc… this was unexpected. This view was taken facing north at approximately 5:00 PM on Tuesday, November 18, 2008.
The tree is located at Alumni Park near the intersection of Baltimore Street and Lefevre Street. In 1863, this was the location of the Samuel McCreary House. This view was taken facing south at approximately 5:00 PM on Tuesday, November 18, 2008.
The trunk of the tree is very large. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 5:00 PM on Tuesday, November 18, 2008.
Another item with which we are impressed is how sturdy the tree is, given its location near Baltimore Street. How much pollution from millions of vehicles over the years must have entered its system? This view was taken facing west at approximately 5:00 PM on Tuesday, November 18, 2008.
Near the sidewalk by the witness tree is a small plaque. This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 5:00 PM on Tuesday, November 18, 2008.
The plaque states that President Lincoln passed by this tree on November 19, 1863. This view was taken facing east at approximately 5:00 PM on Tuesday, November 18, 2008.
Here’s a shot of the crowd at today’s Remembrance Day ceremony in the Gettysburg National Cemetery. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 10:30 AM on Wednesday, November 19, 2008.
See our previous posts on Gettysburg Witness Trees:
