Shultz Woods - Cast Iron Site ID Tablet - Gettysburg, PA
N 39° 49.661 W 077° 14.675
18S E 307913 N 4411042
There are cast iron tablets mounted on concrete bases that denote the names of woods which saw fighting during the Battle of Gettysburg. Although relatively small compared to the monuments, they still contribute to the historic district.
Waymark Code: WMEQQ9
Location: Pennsylvania, United States
Date Posted: 06/28/2012
Views: 3
These cast iron tablets were erected in 1896 as the development and preservation of the park moved into full gear. E.B. Cope designed all of these markers as well as the tablets and historical markers, also made of cast iron. They were all installed under the direct supervision of the War Department. The woods markers are low to the ground, roadside and help to identify the various landmarks, road systems as well as farmhouses and other physical structures and buildings which played an important role in the historic district. Each marker is painted black with white letters.
This ID tablet is on the right or west side of West Confederate Avenue if traveling south and south of the center of Gettysburg. The small tablet stand amid scores of monuments, tablets and cannons. Parking is available at small, intermittent cutouts or small shoulders. Please do not park on the grass, park on the asphalt. I cannot emphasize that enough! You will be ticketed. I visited this monument on Saturday, March 10, 2012 at 11:02 PM, just before the clocks were set ahead for the Spring. I was at a 573 foot ASL elevation.
Schultz Woods is a Gettysburg Battlefield forested area used during the Battle of Gettysburg. Curiously, there is absolutely no mention of Schultz woods on the internet nor its role a a battlefield during the Battle of Gettysburg. The cast iron site identification tablet for the woods was placed in 1920.
The tablet and woods are located at Seminary Ridge, the primary Confederate position west of Gettysburg for the final two days of the battle. McMillan Woods is located at the very northern end of Seminary Ridge, above the McMillan Woods area and just south of the Lutheran Seminary. The ridge then runs southward to the Millerstown Road where it becomes Warfield Ridge. It was from this location on July 3, that Confederates commanded by Generals Pettigrew and Trimble stepped off to participate in the attack on the Union center. (This is known as the ill-fated Pickett's Charge.) There are several batteries represented by cannons of Hill’s corps located here as well.
The McMillan Woods - Cast Iron Site ID Tablet is a contributing feature to the Gettysburg National Military Park Historic District which is nationally significant under NR Criteria A, B, C & D. Areas of Significance: Military, Politics/Government, Landscape Architecture, Conservation, Archeology-Historic. Period of Significance: 1863-1938. The original National Register Nomination was approved by the Keeper March 19, 1975. An update to this nomination was approved by the Keeper on January 23, 2004. The monument is identified as structure number ID58.
From the Nomination Form:
1 of 35 Site ID Tablets of US War Dept. post-Civil War devel. contributing to commemorative landscape. Woods were used to shelter CS infantry & artillery fire on July 2 & 3, 1863. CS entrenchments are located within woods.
Short Physical Description:
Painted raised letter and border inscription tablet, 2'1"x1'8", with rounded corners. Mounted on fluted post, 3' high. Located at east edge of the woods, close to West Confederate Avenue.
Long Physical Description:
N/A
My Sources
1.
NRHP Nomination Form