01 Bushman Farm Tree
How to Find Witness Tree 01
Witness Tree 01 stands serenely in front of the Michael Bushman farmhouse. The home was constructed in 1808, and served as a Confederate aide station for Hood’s division during the battle.
Enter South Confederate Avenue from the Emmitsburg Road (alternately, if you are on the NPS official auto tour, you will cross the Emmitsburg Road from West Confederate Avenue onto South Confederate Avenue). After driving about 400 yards, turn left onto the first dirt road you come across (the entrance to the road is across the street from the Texas Monument). Drive 600 yards, until you reach the first intersection. You are now looking at the historic Michael Bushman Farm. In front of the main house grow three trees. The center tree is an evergreen – a redcedar specifically. This is Witness Tree 02
What This Tree Witnessed
Stepping off of Warfield Ridge, the first two brigades of the Confederate attack passed by Witness Tree 01 and the Bushman Farm. Division commander General John Bell Hood was struck by a shell fragment on his left arm nearby, removing him from the second day’s battle before it had hardly begun.
Witness Tree 01 Statistics
Tree Species: redcedar
Circumference 2025: 34”
Diameter: 107”
Calculated Average Growth Rate: 6-6.5 years / inch diameter
Estimated age: 200-210 years
Estimated diameter in 1863: 8”
Then-and-Now Comparison
The sole then-and-now comparison is based on a 1916 photograph taken by William Tipton:
An interesting view of the south side of the Michael Bushman House. Photographer William Tipton’s intent was to capture an image of the brand-new sidewalk and steps leading from the house to the spring house (label “A”). Today, the steps and housing of the spring house are falling into gentle ruin. Note that the bottoms of the trunks of all the trees were whitewashed in 1916 to protect them from the elements – harsh sunlight in the summer and icy temperatures in the winter.
Other Photographs
Close-up of the ropey bark of Witness Tree 01.
The spring house today.
