Date: November 27, 2006
In early December 2006, Gettysburg National Military Park will replant eleven more historic orchards in major battle action areas on the battlefield. Contractors for the National Park Service will replant 30 acres of orchards with hardy varieties of apple so visitors can better understand the fighting and see the battlefield through the eyes of the soldiers who fought this great battle in 1863.
According to park historians, almost every farm of any size in 1863 Gettysburg had an orchard, usually of a size in proportion to the farmstead. The orchards played many roles during the battle—cover from observation or from fire for both troops and artillery batteries; concealment during movement; obstructions to observation or clear fields of fire; places to gather to rest or seek medical assistance.
The National Park Service is funding this fall’s planting project with $17,972 bequeathed to the park by Frances L. Woolf, deceased, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Woolf included Gettysburg National Military Park in her last will and testament.
The project includes replanting the well-known Bliss Farm orchards, the west Codori orchard, and the orchard at Lee’s headquarters, among others. The Bliss orchards (south and north) were situated in the middle of the expanse of farmland south of Gettysburg that separated the Union and Confederate lines, the Bliss farm and orchards were highly contested during the battle. Both sides wanted control of the nearby house and barn, but neither could hold them long; the position changed hands at least ten times in two days. On the morning of July 3, 1863, Union troops set fire to the buildings.
The park is also replanting orchards on the historic P. Snyder, Fisher, Hummelbaugh, Herbst, Gilbert, McLean, and Culp farms.
Since 2000, the park has replanted 43 acres at 18 historic orchard sites. The goal is to replant a total of 160 acres of orchards throughout the major battle action areas of the battlefield.
Peach Orchard update: The National Park Service is working with the Gettysburg Foundation to restore the Sherfy Peach Orchard at Gettysburg. In the spring of 2006 the aging orchard was cut down to that the ground could be naturally treated to remove a peach tree-killing organism known as the nematode. The orchard site has now had a full summer of planting to naturally treat the soil and remove the organism. In the spring of 2007 the park will once again plant a cover crop to rid the soil of nematodes and by fall of 2007 the park plans to work with the Gettysburg Foundation to plant new, fruit-producing peach trees at the Sherfy Peach Orchard.
Additional Background on Historic Orchards at Gettysburg National Military Park:
"Lee’s Headquarters" Orchard
This orchard on Seminary Ridge played a significant role during the first day of the battle, when it was used as cover for rallying elements of the Federal First Corps and for batteries attempting to turn back the concerted attacks of Lee’s army. A rail breastwork had been thrown up along the western boundary of this large orchard, behind which the desperate Union infantry took a determined last stand against several converging brigades from two of Lee’s corps. After Union forces were compelled to retreat to Cemetery Hill, the orchard fell into the hands of the Confederates who likewise used its cover throughout the remainder of the battle until the retreat on July 5.
Codori West Orchard
The orchard on the west side of the Emmitsburg Road, opposite the Codori farm buildings, did not long survive the battle—probably as a result of artillery and other damage—but it did play a role in determining the alignment of Union forces on the second day of the battle. When General Sickles moved his Third Corps into an advanced position from Cemetery Ridge, this large and dense orchard was located beyond his right flank. General Carr, whose brigade occupied that right flank, was compelled to stretch his line beyond its limits in order to cover a possible attack from Confederates from that quarter. The orchard obscured any view of Confederate movements from that direction and caused Carr extreme concern in his exposed and isolated position.
Cemetery Ridge Orchards
The orchards of Jacob Hummelbaugh and John Fisher, located in the rear of the Cemetery Ridge and near the Union center, provided some measure of cover from artillery firing during the second and third days of the battle. These orchards, like those at many of the farms behind the battle lines of the armies, provided shade for wounded who were brought here for care in the temporary hospitals associated with the farm buildings. There is some evidence that Confederate General William Barksdale was originally interred in the Hummelbaugh orchard after dying at the farm in the early hours of July 3, 1863.
Moses McClean and John Gilbert Orchards
These two orchards are associated with the fighting of the first day of the battle, north and west of the town of Gettysburg. Both orchards were located on the eastern slope of Oak Ridge and their roles during that day’s conflict were associated with providing cover for both armies. The orchard at the McClean farm concealed the movements of O’Neal’s Alabama brigade and also provided cover and concealment for batteries in Carter’s battalion of artillery when they enfiladed the Union Eleventh Corps battle line in the plain below the ridge. Gilbert’s orchard is next to the McClean Grove, which was replanted by the National Park Service in 2005. The orchard provided concealment and cove These two orchards are associated with the fighting of the first day of the battle, north and west of the town of Gettysburg. Both orchards were located on the eastern slope of Oak Ridge and their roles during that day’s conflict were associated with providing cover for both armies. The orchard at the McClean farm concealed the movements of O’Neal’s Alabama brigade and also provided cover and concealment for batteries in Carter’s battalion of artillery when they enfiladed the Union Eleventh Corps battle line in the plain below the ridge. Gilbert’s orchard is next to the McClean Grove, which was replanted by the National Park Service in 2005. The orchard provided concealment and cover for that portion of Robinson’s Division charged with protecting the right flank of the First Corps.
