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Witnesses to battle: Delaware man fights for trees at Gettysburg

Portrait of William Bretzger William Bretzger
Gettysburg battlefield visitors cruise past a stately oak tree that stands over Devil's Den in June 2024. The tree is believed by many to have been a witness to the fighting on the second day of the battle. Read about a Delaware man’s fight for the trees at Gettysburg
Gettysburg battlefield visitors cruise past a stately oak tree that stands over Devil's Den in June 2024. The tree is believed by many to have been a witness to the fighting on the second day of the battle. Read about a Delaware man’s fight for the trees at Gettysburg 
William Bretzger/Delaware News Journal
A tree standing in a woodlot along a pasture on the field of the first day of the fighting on the Gettysburg battlefield is certain to be a witness to the battle, according to Delaware's Greg Gober. It's one of several like it in the same area, and one of hundreds - or more - that Gober said have been ignored previously.
A tree standing in a woodlot along a pasture on the field of the first day of the fighting on the Gettysburg battlefield is certain to be a witness to the battle, according to Delaware's Greg Gober. It's one of several like it in the same area, and one of hundreds - or more - that Gober said have been ignored previously.
William Bretzger/Delaware News Journal
Gober Gregory leads a June talk about witness trees on the Gettysburg battlefield as he stands before one of his subjects in the grove where Union General John Reynolds was killed leading troops on the first day of battle.
Gober Gregory leads a June talk about witness trees on the Gettysburg battlefield as he stands before one of his subjects in the grove where Union General John Reynolds was killed leading troops on the first day of battle.
William Bretzger/Delaware News Journal
A comparison between a photograph made of a Confederate artillery position about 40 years after the battle of Gettysburg and a modern view shows the same hickory tree, which Greg Gober and other witness tree enthusiasts say resided there during the battle in 1863. Read about a Delaware man’s fight for the trees at Gettysburg
A comparison between a photograph made of a Confederate artillery position about 40 years after the battle of Gettysburg and a modern view shows the same hickory tree, which Greg Gober and other witness tree enthusiasts say resided there during the battle in 1863. Read about a Delaware man’s fight for the trees at Gettysburg 
William Bretzger/Delaware News Journal
A tree known as the Gibbon Tree for the Union general that commanded the Federal forces where it stands perseveres on the center of the Gettysburg battefield, seen on the 161st anniversary of the battle's climax, July 3, 2024.
A tree known as the Gibbon Tree for the Union general that commanded the Federal forces where it stands perseveres on the center of the Gettysburg battefield, seen on the 161st anniversary of the battle's climax, July 3, 2024.
William Bretzger/Delaware News Journal
A tree known as the Gibbon tree for the Union general that commanded the Federal forces where it stands, perseveres on the center of the Gettysburg battefield, seen on the 161st anniversary of the battle's climax, July 3, 2024.
A tree known as the Gibbon tree for the Union general that commanded the Federal forces where it stands, perseveres on the center of the Gettysburg battefield, seen on the 161st anniversary of the battle's climax, July 3, 2024.
William Bretzger/Delaware News Journal
A white oak estimated by witness tree enthusiast Greg Gober to be at least 250 years old stands near Confederate artillery positions on the Gettysburg battefield, seen June 8, 2024.
A white oak estimated by witness tree enthusiast Greg Gober to be at least 250 years old stands near Confederate artillery positions on the Gettysburg battefield, seen June 8, 2024.
William Bretzger/Delaware News Journal
A tag on a tree believed to be a witness to the fighting on the Gettysburg battefield is seen June 8, 2024. Tags like this one found on some aged trees on the field are clues to their status as witness trees, but information about the exact origin of the tags is not clear.
A tag on a tree believed to be a witness to the fighting on the Gettysburg battefield is seen June 8, 2024. Tags like this one found on some aged trees on the field are clues to their status as witness trees, but information about the exact origin of the tags is not clear.
William Bretzger/Delaware News Journal
A monument to a Union artillery battery stands atop Devil's Den in front of a tree believed by many to have been a witness to the fight on the Gettysburg battefield, seen June 8, 2024.
A monument to a Union artillery battery stands atop Devil's Den in front of a tree believed by many to have been a witness to the fight on the Gettysburg battefield, seen June 8, 2024.
William Bretzger/Delaware News Journal
An oak known as the Sickles Tree for its proximity to the temporary headquarters of Union Major General Daniel Sickles was a witness to the fierce fighting on the second day on the Gettysburg battefield, seen June 8, 2024. The Sickles Tree is one of a handful of well known witness trees but Greg Gober is working to identify and protect what he says is hundreds or even thousands more anonymous ones like it still on the battlefield. Read about a Delaware man’s fight for the trees at Gettysburg
An oak known as the Sickles Tree for its proximity to the temporary headquarters of Union Major General Daniel Sickles was a witness to the fierce fighting on the second day on the Gettysburg battefield, seen June 8, 2024. The Sickles Tree is one of a handful of well known witness trees but Greg Gober is working to identify and protect what he says is hundreds or even thousands more anonymous ones like it still on the battlefield. Read about a Delaware man’s fight for the trees at Gettysburg 
William Bretzger/Delaware News Journal