Sherfy’s Wheatfield

Gettysburg - July 2, 1863

 

Joseph Sherfy’s farm gained historic notice as the location of the Peach Orchard.  Sherfy grew not only fruit but other crops including a field of wheat located south of  his barn. Though this wheat field is not nearly as famous as that of his neighbor’s, George Rose, it was the scene of desperate fighting.

  The 114^th Pennsylvania Regiment was one of several units at Gettysburg to utilize a variation of the Zouave uniform.  Sometimes know as Collis’s Zouaves, they were formed by a Philadelphia lawyer, who started the war as a volunteer private.

The 114^th came to Gettysburg as part of Charles Graham’s Brigade of Sickles’ III corps. After Graham’s Brigade was ordered to the Peach Orchard area the 114^th spent several hours near the Wentz house on the west side of the Emmitsburg Road. From 3:30 on they were subject to the artillery attack against the Union Batteries nearby.  Just after 6:00 PM when Barksdale’s brigade emerged out the wood to the west Captain George Randolph of Sickles’ Artillery Corps came up to Captain Bowen.  Lt. Colonel Cavada and General Graham were not available, and Randolph asked Bowen if the 114^th could move to protect the several Union batteries, which were highly vulnerable to Barksdale’s attack.  Bowen agreed and ordered the 114^th forward across the Emmitsburg road and into the wheat field south of the Sherfy Barn. 

            In any event this was an aggressive move. Barksdale had 1600 men moving briskly toward the Peach Orchard and the 114^th had only started the day with 259 men.  The encounter was brief and bloody. The 114^th lost 95 men killed or wounded and due to their forward exposure 60 men were captured. One result of the 114^th’s action is clear. Not one of the 40 federal cannon in the Peach Orchard area was captured there. 

            The scene above is the left flank of the 114^th as they cleared the Union Batteries. The Sherfy cannery, house and barn are visible in the background