Historic Revolutionary War ‘witness tree’ at center of preservation effort

Preservationists are working to save a unique Revolutionary War "witness tree."

The Associated Press reported that arborists project that the tree was roughly 50 years old on Sept. 8, 1781, when British and colonial forces fought during the Battle of Eutaw Springs — considered by historians to be the last open field engagement of the American Revolution.

Crews work to preserve historic tree 

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The tree is 45 feet and has a 72-inch trunk with Spanish moss and a bright-green fern.  As the tree grew, the metal bands cut into the trunk and branches, in some places disappearing beneath a covering of bark.

And 50 years ago, lightning struck a section of the tree where the main trunk divides into two or more large branches, which split the tree nearly in two. Workers whipped the broad branches together with steel cables and chains.

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According to The Associated Press, crews recently used an air tool to loosen the ground around the tree’s roots, then injected a mixture to add nutrients to the soil. 

Workers hammered small lightning rods into the main branches, connecting them with copper cables that meet on a copper rod hammered deep into the ground roughly 10 feet from the trunk.

Additionally, workers will install new cables, bolted into five main branches, to stabilize the tree before removing the old supports.

 

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