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Preservationists Are Working to Extend the Life of a Rare Revolutionary War ‘Witness Tree’

The South Carolina Battlefield Preservation Trust recently launched a rescue mission for a Revolutionary War "witness tree" at the Eutaw Springs historic site, aiming to remove aging metal supports choking the massive live oak.
Workers lashed the tree with steel cables and chains decades ago to save it, but those mechanisms now cut into the bark; the tree witnessed the Battle of Eutaw Springs 245 years ago and can no longer pull nutrients from soil.
On Aug. 12, 2026, Maryland-based SavATree installed copper lightning rods into the branches, while crews previously used supersonic air tools to de-compact soil and injected kelp mixture to restore vital nutrients.
Arborist Aron Landsaw explains a center hub will connect new cables allowing the tree to sway naturally, as workers prepare to bolt these into five main branches before removing old hardware.
As the nation marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the American Battlefield Trust and South Carolina 250 lead preservation efforts, with Landsaw confident the tree will inspire new generations of Americans for at least 100 years.

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