The fences pictured here were erected earlier this month along the north and south side of the railroad cut in Gettysburg National Military Park. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 2:45 PM on Friday, June 17, 2011.
Responding to concerns about primary source documentation of fencing along the railroad cut in the summer of 1863, the National Park Service will be “relocating” the three sections of fencing along the cut.
The fences under scrutiny (two of the three sections are pictured here) were just many of the fences erected by the Friends of Gettysburg for their Volunteer Workday earlier in June, which we previously covered here and here. These two sections of fencing will be removed from this area. The monument on the left is to the 95th New York and the monument on the far right is to the 6th Wisconsin. This view was taken facing east at approximately 2:45 PM on Friday, June 17, 2011.
The third section of fencing that will be removed from this area is here, by the monument to the 14th Brooklyn. And yes, birds always seem to be sitting atop this monument when we photograph it. This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 2:45 PM on Friday, June 17, 2011.
National Park Service Superintendent Bob Kirby was quoted in a National Park Service press release that was published yesterday: “We don’t have conclusive evidence so we’ll be removing the three sections of fencing and reusing the materials. As soon as we received questions, we took them very seriously. We appreciate the commitment that we share with the public to do these things right.” The press release can be read in its entirety by clicking here. This view was facing southeast at approximately 2:45 PM on Friday, June 17, 2011.
One of the positives to come out of this story is the removal of brush/undergrowth along the ground that borders the railroad cut. This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 2:45 PM on Friday, June 17, 2011.
This is the right flank marker to the 6th Wisconsin (that we did show in a photograph about the fences here at the railroad cut on Monday of this week), which used to be almost entirely obscured by bushes and weeds. This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 2:45 PM on Friday, June 17, 2011.
It’s good to finally have this marker “in the clear,” so that visitors who go hunting for it will have an easier time finding it. This view was taken facing north at approximately 2:45 PM on Friday, June 17, 2011.
There is currently no timeline on removing the fences, though the National Park Service hopes to begin the work “soon.” The roof to the orange-red structure near Herr’s Tavern is visible in the left background along Herr’s Ridge. This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 2:45 PM on Friday, June 17, 2011.
We applaud the National Park Service for their attention to detail in this matter and for promptly responding to concerns about the fences in this area. The apple orchard across from the Thompson House on Seminary Ridge, along with its fences, can be seen in the center and right background. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 2:45 PM on Friday, June 17, 2011.