Harvest of Death - The Wheatfield on Gettysburg Battlefield

Harvest of Death - The Wheatfield on Gettysburg Battlefield

Harvest of Death is the name of a famous photograph by Civil War photographer Timothy H. O'Sullivan showing dead Union soldiers at the Wheatfield on the Gettysburg Battlefield during the second day of the battle.  The fighting that took place at the Wheatfield consisted of eleven different brigades attacking and counter attacking for over two hours. Over 20,000 soldiers, (6 Confederate brigades & 13 Union brigades) participated in the action that transpired at the Wheatfield. Of those that engaged over 6,000 were killed, wounded, or captured. 20,000 men engaged in battle on an 19 acres of ground, no wonder they consider the Wheatfield among the bloodiest battles on the Gettysburg Battlefield.

Some of the casualties were able to crawl to the Plum Run ( a run is a small stream) which flows between Devils Den and Little Round Top,  but were unable to cross the run. As the wounded lay in the run their blood spilled into the run, the Plum Run would from then on be known as Bloody Run. The Wheatfield actually was planted with wheat by the Rose family at the time of battle. The red blood contrasted brightly with the wheat color. The geographic location of the Wheatfield is between the rocks of Devils Den and the Peach Orchard. It is widely believed that Major Gen. Daniel Sickles unauthorized movement to the Peach Orchard is the reason for the battle to control the Wheatfield location.

You can read the eyewitness account given by Confederate Gen. Joseph Kershaw for more detailed information. One of the more notable monuments on the Gettysburg Battlefield sits in the woods next to the Wheatfield. It is the Irish Brigade Cross with the Irish Wolfhound at it's base. The monument was created by Rudolph O'Donovan and dedicated in 1888.

Irish Brigade Monument

Today the Wheatfield  is popular with ghost hunters, the fact that the small area changed hands so many times and saw such intense battle action that their is reported to be a lot of paranormal in the area. There are many, many reports of camera's failing in the field, and I have to admit that when I went to take this footage, my perfectly good fully charged battery depleted and I had to get a new one from the camera bag. Oddly enough, the battery worked fine when placed back in the camera in another area of the battlefield. Now I am not saying anything, but...If you would like to visit the Gettysburg Battlefield with one of the Ghost tour companies