(2) 12-Pounder Confederate Bronze Field Howitzer, Unmarked - Gettysburg, PA
N 39° 48.385 W 077° 15.383
18S E 306843 N 4408707
There are two unmarked (no muzzle stamps) 12-pounder Howitzers which flank either side of the Patterson’s Georgia - CS Battery Marker.
Waymark Code: WMENHZ
Location: Pennsylvania, United States
Date Posted: 06/19/2012
Views: 3
There are only nine examples of these types of guns @ Gettysburg and of those nine only two have surviving registry numbers. The entire carriage and its wheels look brand new, probably as a result of its recent maintenance within the last three or four years. The bronze firing tube has a green patina from constant exposure to the elements. To all appearances, this weapon closely resembles the 12-pounder Confederate bronze Napoleon. The 12-pdr field howitzers were manufactured from the Federal 1841 pattern in 1862. I am not sure if these weapons are of that ilk.
The two cannons/guns and the Patterson's CS Battery Tablet are southwest of Gettysburg on West Confederate Avenue, on the right or east side of the road if traveling in a northerly direction, 260 feet southeast before the left turn for Berdan Avenue (which is northwest of this position) and north of Pitzer Woods. The cannons face the east. Parking can 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 3:01 PM, just before the clocks were set ahead for the Spring. I was at a 584 foot ASL elevation.
About the Weapon
Howitzers were short-barreled guns that were optimized for firing explosive shells in a high trajectory, but also for spherical case shot and canister, over a shorter range than the guns. Field Howitzer calibers used in the Civil War were 12-pounder (4.62 inch bore), 24-pounder (5.82 inch bore), and 32-pounder (6.41 inch bore). Most of the howitzers used in the war were bronze, with notable exceptions of some of Confederate manufacture. Coupled to the 6-pounder field gun in allocations of the pre-war Army, the 12-pounder field Howitzer was represented by Models of 1838 and 1841. With a light weight and respectable projectile payload, the 12-pounder was only cycled out of the main field army inventories as production and availability of the 12-pounder "Napoleon" rose, and would see action in the Confederate armies up to the very end.
12-pounder mountain Howitzer saw service with infantry and cavalry forces in the rugged western theaters and prairies, and continued in service during the Indian Wars. This versatile piece could utilize one of two carriages: a small carriage that could be drawn by a single animal or could be rapidly broken down to carry on the backs of pack animals, or a slightly larger prairie carriage to be drawn by two animals. A veteran of the Mexican-American War, several hundred more of these diminutive tubes were produced by Union foundries during the Civil War, and the Confederate Tredegar foundry turned out as many as 21 more. SOURCE
The tablet, which marks the position of Patterson's Georgia Artillery CS Battery on July 2-4, 1863 and narrates those events reads as follows:
Army of Northern Virginia
Hill's Corps Anderson's Division
Lane's Battalion Patterson's Battery
Two Napoleons, Four 12 pounder Howitzers
July 2 Was detached from the Battalion in the morning together with the Howitzer of Ross's Battery and ordered into position here. In the afternoon opened fire upon the Union positions north of Peach Orchard and when the infantry advanced at 6 p.m. moved forward with it beyond the Emmitsburg road and was engaged there until dark.
July 3 Occupied a position near here in reserve and did not take part in the active operations of the day.
July 4 Withdrew about sunset and began the march to Hagerstown.
Losses Killed 2, wounded 5, missing 2.
Ammunition expended 170 rounds.
Horses killed or disabled 7.
This area is loaded with all types of cannons and guns, a veritable outside museum. I would suggest allowing up to an hour to fully inspect all the tablets, monuments and weapons in this area.