12-Pounder Bronze Field Howitzers, Model of 1841, No. 33 - Gettysburg, PA - Static Artillery Displays on Waymarking.com

There are hundreds of cannons at Gettysburg, many of them flanking monuments and markers. Such is the case with this artillery piece. The canon and tablet are located on West Confederate Avenue, on the right or west side of traveling west. To the rear or north of this position is the Confederate Avenue Observation Tower. Parking is just 95 feet away at the observation tower lot. Parking can also be had at the side of the road at small, intermittently placed cutouts. Please do not park on the grass, park on the side of the road. I cannot emphasize that enough! You will be ticketed. I visited this monument on Saturday, March 10, 2012 at 4:03 PM, just before the clocks were set ahead for the Spring. I was at a 573 foot ASL elevation.

The gun faces due east. The firing tube is no longer shiny but green as the bronze has long since oxidized. The carriage, wheels and other tube carrying mechanisms all look well tended to and in good shape sporting what appears to be fresh paint. My usual SOURCE for cannon documentation provided me with the following line of information (the same information I had trouble reading on the outer muzzle face) about this specific cannon:
Ames - Reg# 33 - INSP JWR - YR 46 - WT 787

Ames refers to the N.P. Ames, J.T. Ames or Ames Manufacturing Co., MA. Reg #33 is simply the registration number and the foundry's way of documenting and identifying each individual gun produced by their company. I was able to see this number on the outer muzzle. INSP JWR refers to James Wolfe Ripley (December 10, 1794 – March 16, 1870), the military officer responsible for inspecting the final product to make sure it meets all standards. was an American soldier, serving as a brigadier general in the Union Army during the Civil War. He was instrumental in the early days of the war in modernizing the artillery's ordnance. However, Ripley also delayed the introduction of repeating rifles into U.S. arsenals, an act has been widely criticized by later historians. YR 46 is the year the cannon tube was cast. WT 787 refers to the weight of the cannon or bronze tube which fired projectiles. Each individual cannon had its own specific weight, like a fingerprint. More information about the specifics of this weapon can be found HERE.

The nearby tablet describes the actions of Carlton's Battery for the three days at Gettysburg, July 1-3, 1863.

Army of Northern Virginia
Longstreet's Corps McLaws's Division
Cabell's Battalion Carlton's Battery
The Troup Artillery
Second Section Two 12 pounder Howitzers
July 2 This section took position here at 4 p.m. and was actively engaged until near dark.

July 3 In position near main artillery line but under cover of hill in front of Spangler's Woods. After repulse of Longstreet's assault advanced 300 yards and aided in checking pursuit. Retired from the front after dark.

July 4 In position here all day and withdrew from the field after night. Their ammunition was nearly exhausted.

Losses of both section killed 1, wounded 6

Horses of both sections killed or disabled 17.

What type of artillery is this?: Cannon Where is this artillery located?: Monument grounds What military of the world used this device?: United States Army Date artillery was in use: 07/01/1863 Date artillery was placed on display: 07/01/1910 Cost?: 0.00 (listed in local currency) Artillery is no longer operational: yes Still may work: no Parking location to view this Waymark: Not Listed Are there any geocaches at this location?: 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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