These cannons are much smaller than the other cannons used here in 1863 such as the Parrotts or Napoleons. These weapons are quickly identifiable as the tubes are black, very smooth, and almost always in terrific shape and represented at the time, some pretty serious weapon technology. There trunnions are devoid of markings. Their tubes do not have the breech band seen in the similar looking Parrotts. The 3-inch carriages are also always equally pristine. This is an 1861 model but was manufactured in 1862 and may have seen service at Gettysburg. This model was also mass-produced by the Confederates as well, but not nearly as well made as their Union counterparts. The stamp on this muzzle is battered and worn and identification was difficult and took some investigating to find its documentation while the left gun or the gun's manufacturing muzzle stamp (to the rear of the monument) was in much better condition making it much easier to trace the rifle's history.
Calvin Gilbert owned a foundry which bore his name in Gettysburg. This man was responsible for creating all of the cast iron battery tablets (including this one) at this park. His work did not end there as his foundry created many of the carriages for the historic cannons at Gettysburg. Although almost all of the cannons are from the Civil War, their carriages, sights, and caissons have been restored at his foundry in the early part of the 20th century. GIlbert was in his 70s when he did this work and completed work at other battlefields as well.
The two 3-inch rifles and the Hampton's Battery C and F Penn. Artillery Monument is located on Wheatfield Road, 190 feet east of the intersection of Wheatfield Road and Emmitsburg Road (Business U.S. 15), and on the right or south side of Wheatfield road if traveling east. The monument is unusual in that when facing it from the road, you are not looking at the front of the monument but rather the left side. This is because the monument faces west and the road also runs east/west. For some reasons the rifles point to the south. This area is near the tenth stop for the independent auto tour as well as the guided tour. I saw a number of cars unload just up the road with a park ranger always at the wheel, then emerging with visitors and then leading the way on foot and explaining the doings here at the Peach Orchard during the battle. Parking is difficult but available at enlarged shoulder sections intermittently spaced throughout this area. Stay off the grass less you be ticketed. I visited this monument on Thursday, July 5, 2012 at 11:48 AM, at a 619 foot ASL elevation. I used my Canon PowerShot 14.1 Megapixel, SX210 IS digital camera.
My SOURCE for all things weapons at Gettysburg provided me additional information about this weapon which did not appear on the muzzle. I used red to designate that data. The rest is as it appears exactly on the muzzle, starting at the top and moving clockwise:
No 516 ......PICo ......1862 ......C.C.C. ......816 ......FDY #550 ......GRVS 7RH
No 516 refers to the Army registration number, a way for the military to keep track of the guns when it took receipt of each weapon. PICo refers to the Phoenix Iron Company in Phoenixville, PA, the foundry where the fun was manufactured. I believe when the Rebels were able to capture one of these guns, they copied it and produced their own, although this one was federally made. (More on that below) 1862 refers to the production date. C.C.C. are the initials of Clemens C. Chaffee, an inspector at the Phoenix Arsenal, and the person responsible for giving this gun the once over before it was shipped out to the Federal Army. 816 refers to the weight of the firing tube. This number is on the bottom of the muzzle. Each gun is usually very unique and has its own weight which distinguishes it from every other gun, like a fingerprint. For some reason, there are a whole bunch of these guns with the same weight. I am unsure how that is even possible given the lack of precise manufacturing technology foundry's had in 1862. The weight of this gun is significantly lighter (about 300 pounds) than some of the Confederate Napoleons used during the Battle of Gettysburg. FDY #550 is an internal control number specific to the foundry. The carriages were approximately 900 pounds which makes this entire weapon approximately 1,700 pounds or so. The GRVS 7RH, more information provided by my source, refers to number of rifling grooves, left or right twist. In this case, 7 right hand twists were made to rifle this cannon. One can peer into the muzzle to see these spiral twists/grooves.
About the Inspector
Clemens Clifford Chaffee was born on June 28, 1841. He was a cadet at West Point Military Academy from July 1, 1858, to June 17, 1862, when he graduated and was promoted in the Army to Second Lieutenant, Ordnance, June 17, 1862. Chaffee served during the Rebellion of the Seceding States, 1862-66: as Assistant Ordnance Officer at Watervliet Arsenal, N. Y. From July 1 to Aug. 28, 1862, he served at Frankford Arsenal, Pa., Sep. 1, 1862, to Apr. 21, 1863, — and of the (First Lieut., Ordnance, Mar. 3, 1863) Department of the Tennessee, May 16 to Oct. 1, 1863, participating, May 16 to June 19, 1863, in the Campaign and Siege of Vicksburg, being on temporary Engineer duty, May 30 to June 29, 1863; in charge of the(Bvt. Captain, July 4, 1863, for Gallant and Meritorious Services during the Siege of Vicksburg, Mis.) Vicksburg Ordnance Depot, Oct. 1, 1863, to Mar. 18, 1864; and as Asst. Ordnance Officer at Allegheny Arsenal, Pa., Mar. 22, 1864, to June, 1865. He served in receiving arms from Connecticut Volunteers, June-July, 1865; and as Asst. Ordnance Officer at Springfield Armory, Mas., (Captain, Ordnance, Mar. 7, 1867) June 15, 1865, to July 5, 1867. Chaffee died July 5, 1867, at Springfield Armory, Massachusetts, aged 26 and was buried at Springfield Cemetery in Springfield, MA. SOURCE
About the Foundry
The Phoenix Iron Works (1855: Phoenix Iron Company; 1949: Phoenix Iron & Steel Company; 1955: Phoenix Steel Corporation), located in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, was a significant manufacturer of iron and related products during the 19th century and early 20th century. Phoenix Iron Company was a major producer of cannons for the Union Army during the American Civil War. The company also produced the Phoenix column, a significant advance in construction material. Phoenix Iron Works is a core component of the Phoenixville Historic District, a National Register of Historic Places site and in 2006 was recognized as a Historic Landmark by ASM International. SOURCE & SOURCE
About the Gun
The second most common rifled field artillery in both Armies generally, and the most common on the Maryland Campaign, the 3 inch Ordnance gun was made of hammer-welded, formed, machined iron. It was popular because of its accuracy and reliability, at least those examples built in Federal shops. Less precise machining and lower-grade iron gave their Confederate counterparts more trouble. Those built by the firm of Burton and Archer were know to be problematic. The 3-inch rifle normally fired Hotchkiss or Schenkel shells that weighed between 8 and 9 pounds. In an emergency it could use 10-pounder Parrot ammunition. It could also be used to fire cannister but, as a rifle, was not as effective with this as howitzers or Napoleons. The maximum range of this weapon was 1830 yards, with the barrel/tube Length 69 inches, the bore 3 inches (hence the name) and the total combined weight (already mentioned above), approximately 1720 pounds. Johnson, Curt & Anderson, Richard C., Artillery Hell: Employment of Artillery at Antietam, College Station, TX: Texas A&M University Press, 1995; and
Schwartz, Peter, Artillery at Gettysburg online. SOURCE & SOURCE.
The accompanying monument, which marks the position and lists the itinerary of the 2nd US Artillery from June 30 to on July 2, 1863, reads as follows:
The tablet, which marks the position of Hampton's Battery on July 2-3, 1863 reads as follows:
(Front):F. Penna. Light Artillery
Organized at Pittsburgh
Hampton's Battery
(Right): From June 3 1863 to March 25 1864 Batteries F and C served as a consolidated battery.
July 2, occupied this position from about 5 to 6 o'clock p.m. July 3, with the left centre on cemetery ridge on left of First Volunteer Brigade Reserve Artillery marked by tablet. 24 men from battery F were detailed to Battery H 1st Ohio Artillery posted in the Cemetery during the battle.
(Left):Mustered in Oct. 8, 1861
re-enlisted Feb. 27, 1864
Mustered out June 26, 1865
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.