Confederate Major General Henry Heth was wounded at this spot on July 1, 1863, as he advanced with his men through McPherson’s/Herbst’s/Reynold’s Woods on the western arm of McPherson’s Ridge. Heth would claim after the battle that the shot that wounded him came from the McPherson Barn, located behind the statue to John Burns in the right of this photograph.This image was taken facing north at approximately 2:00 PM on Tuesday, February 28, 2017.

It’s been almost a decade since we last visited the stump of the white oak tree where Heth was wounded. To get to the stump, drive along Stone Avenue off the Chambersburg Pike. The stump is beyond the monument to the 84th New York Infantry (center) where you can see a “worm” fence.This image was taken facing south at approximately 2:00 PM on Tuesday, February 28, 2017.

You can park by the 7th Wisconsin Infantry regiment. The path that leads to the stump is out of frame to the left.The monument to the 2nd Wisconsin Infantry regiment is in the trees on the left. This image was taken facing southwest at approximately 2:00 PM on Tuesday, February 28, 2017.

The stump is just a short walk ahead (about 11 “turns” of worm fence, or about 6 sections).This image was taken facing east at approximately 2:00 PM on Tuesday, February 28, 2017.

We were contacted by reader Charlie L., who told us that the stump was in bad shape. The stump is in the bottom right of this photograph.The 7th Wisconsin is to the left along Stone Avenue as it turns into Meredith Avenue. This image was taken facing northwest at approximately 2:00 PM on Tuesday, February 28, 2017.

Heth was wounded by this white oak tree while his division was advancing with Dorsey Pender’s division on July 1, 1863. Heth’s hat was too large for his head, so he stuck a wad of papers in the hatband. A shot struck him in the head and was partially deflected by the papers, causing Heth to be almost senseless for the remainder of the battle. On returning to the field around 1900, Heth pointed out the tree. The tree was hit by lightning in the late 1990s and the Park Service had to cut it down for safety reasons. Compare this photo of the stump in 2008…This view was taken facing southwest at approximately 12:00 PM on Friday, November 28, 2008.

…To its appearance today.This image was taken facing east at approximately 2:00 PM on Tuesday, February 28, 2017.

Time has finally gotten the best of the stump to this oak tree. It’s fallen apart into separate sections that are no longer rooted in the ground.This image was taken facing northwest at approximately 2:00 PM on Tuesday, February 28, 2017.

The breaking apart of the stump did reveal at least one detail we hadn’t noticed last time we were here. See the nails?This image was taken facing west at approximately 2:00 PM on Tuesday, February 28, 2017.

In an effort to keep the stump together, at one time at least two nails were hammered in to keep its shape.This image was taken facing north at approximately 2:00 PM on Tuesday, February 28, 2017.