3-Inch Rifles (4) - Gettysburg, PA - Static Artillery Displays on Waymarking.com

Long Description:

There are four 3-inch ordnance rifled cannon (two on either side) representing Wheeler's Battery position (the same guns they used). I recovered a picture of this monument form 1900 and the rifles were present in the picture so they have been on display for at least one hundred eleven years. The actual guns used by the battery broke down, a few were abandoned and later retrieved after the battle. These rifles/cannons are in excellent condition and can also be found flanking other monuments along Howard Avenue's monument lined road.

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From my previous waymark about the monument:

The 13th New York Independent Battery of Artillery was also known as Baker’s Brigade Artillery. During the battle of Gettysburg, it served as a member of Osborn’s Brigade in the Eleventh Corps, Army of the Potomac. The battery was commanded at Gettysburg by Lieutenant William Wheeler (1836-1864). It brought 118 men to the field serving four Ordnance Rifles, and lost eight wounded and three missing.

The monument is north of Gettysburg on West Howard Avenue. The SIRIS site describes this as: Granite obelisk with a bronze New York State Seal on the front and text inscription. A crescent insignia is incised into the front and rear of the obelisk (this is the symbol of the 11th Corps). There are high reliefs (bas relief) of upward-facing cannon barrels (3-inch rifles) on the sides of the obelisk. On the sides of the monument are representations of 3-inch Ordnance Rifles, the type used by the Battery at Gettysburg. The obelisk stands on a tiered base.

The monument marks the position held by Wheeler’s 13th New York Independent Battery on July 1, 1863. The base is smooth stone on a 6.3 foot square base. Overall height is 14.8 foot. Flanking markers are one foot square with pyramidal caps. The entire thing is made of Quincy granite. Its dimensions are: Sculpture: approx. H. 14 ft. 8 in.; Base: approx. W. 6 ft. 3 in. x D. 6 ft. 3 in. The monument was dedicated on July 3, 1893 by the State of New York and was fabricated by the Smith Granite Company.

The text of the marker reads:

13th New York
Indpt. Light Battery
(Wheeler's)
Artillery Brigade
11th Corps
———
July 1, 1863. Engaged here. July 2. On Cemetery Hill.
July 3. At repulse of Pickett's Charge

13th New York Independent Battery Monument 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 MN057-F.

From the nomination form:

Short Physical Description:

Mn, 2 Markers, & 4 cannon. Mn: Smooth base 6'3" square; smooth granite shaft w/incised inscription & bronze medallion on front, bronze reliefs on sides; topped by pyramid

Flanked by 4 wrought iron 3" ordnance rifled cannon mounted on cast-iron carriages, 2 each side.

Long Physical Description From NR:

Monument that has two flanking markers and four wrought iron three-inch ordnance rifled cannon. Monument is a smooth granite shaft with an incised inscription and bronze medallion on the front, bronze reliefs on the sides, and topped by a pyramidal cap. Base is smooth stone on a 6.3 foot square base. Overall height is 14.8 foot. Flanking markers are one foot square with pyramidal caps. Two cannon are mounted on cast iron carriages on each side of the monument. It is located on West Howard Avenue.

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My Sources
1. Draw the Sword
2. SIRIS
3. Virtual Gettysburg
4. Historical Marker Database
5. Stone Sentinels
6. NRHP Narrative

What type of artillery is this?: rifle/cannon; 3-inch Where is this artillery located?: Monument grounds What military of the world used this device?: Army Date artillery was in use: 7/1/1863 Date artillery was placed on display: 7/4/1893 Cost?: 0.00 (listed in local currency) Artillery is no longer operational: yes Still may work: no Are there any geocaches at this location?: Lots of virtuals Parking location to view this Waymark: Not Listed

Visit Instructions:
Two pictures are required for this Waymark. Please take a close up picture of the artillery. Take a second with the artillery in the distance and capture as much of the surroundings as possible. Name the Waymark with first the name of the area and second what the artillery is. An example would be if it were a cannon in front of the Montgomery Armory you would name the Waymark: Montgomery Armory Cannon.

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