12-Pounder Bronze Napoleon, Model of 1857, Unmarked - Gettysburg, PA
N 39° 48.080 W 077° 15.004
18S E 307370 N 4408129
There are two 12-pounder Napoleons flanking the Battery G, 1st N.Y. Artillery Monument. Both cannons face the west in the direction of the once attacking Rebel army along scenic Route 15/Emmitsburg Road. This waymark is for the right side cannon.
Waymark Code: WMEXH1
Location: Pennsylvania, United States
Date Posted: 07/18/2012
Views: 4
There are hundreds of cannons at Gettysburg, many of them flanking monuments and markers. Such is the case with this artillery piece. The carriage, wheels and other tube carrying mechanisms all look well tended to and in good shape, sporting what appears to be fresh paint. The firing tube has a green patina from constant exposure to the elements. I peered into the bore and did not observe any rifling grooves, making this a smoothbore. There are not many of the Napoleons in this area. Most of the Union armaments are 3-inch ordnance rifles, these two an exception. The muzzle contains a worn and beaten registry stamp which contains manufacturing information. I was unable to read the information so for now this cannon remains anonymous. I learned the man who made the tablets which accompany the cannons also had a hand in restoring these cannons as well. Gettysburg National Military Park has hundreds of these historic artillery pieces on its field of battle. Their carriages, sights, and caissons, however, have been restored. Much of the restorative work came from Major Calvin Gilbert who owned the Gettysburg foundry.
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 Napoleons and monument are up on a small hill, facing Route 15/Emmitsburg Road, part of the newly adopted Pennsylvania Byway system, south southwest of Gettysburg. The cannon points to the west, across Rt 15/Emmitsburg Road. The cannon is on the right or east side of the road if traveling north. The intersection of Rt. 15 and Millerstown/Wheatfield Road is just north of this position, about 150 feet away. Parking is available on the side of the road in the form of small shoulders. I would turn on Wheatfield road and park down the road a bit and stay off of Route 15. Stay off the grass or you'll be ticketed. I visited the monument on Thursday, July 5, 2012 near noon & @ an altitude of 607 feet, ASL.
About the Gun
The twelve-pound cannon "Napoleon" was the most popular smoothbore cannon used during the war. It was named after Napoleon III of France and was widely admired because of its safety, reliability, and killing power, especially at close range. The Federal version of the Napoleon can be recognized by the flared front end of the barrel, called the muzzle-swell. Confederate Napoleons were produced in at least six variations, most of which had straight muzzles, but at least eight catalogued survivors of 133 identified have muzzle swells This bronze gun does not have that flare. Casting of these bronze Napoleons by the Confederacy ceased due to lack of resources and in January 1864 Tredegar began producing iron Napoleons. Just before this in early 1863, resources were so scarce, Robert E. Lee sent nearly all of the Army of Northern Virginia's bronze 6-pounder guns to Tredegar (another foundry) to be melted down and recast as Napoleons. SOURCE
Commonly referred to as the "Napoleon", this bronze smoothbore cannon fired a twelve-pound ball and was considered a light gun through each weighed an average of 1,200 pounds. This powerful cannon could fire explosives shell and solid shot up to a mile and charges of canister up to 300 yards with accuracy. The Napoleon was a favorite amongst some Northern artillerists because of its firepower and reliability. Two Union batteries armed with Napoleons at Gettysburg were very effective in holding back Confederate infantry attacks and knocking down opposing southern batteries. Battery G, 4th U.S. repeatedly slowed Confederate infantry attacks against the Eleventh Corps lines on July 1, while Captain Hubert Dilger's Battery G, 1st Ohio Light Artillery almost annihilated two Confederate batteries with accurate and punishing counter-battery fire at long distance. Most Union Napoleons were manufactured in Massachusetts by the Ames Company and the Revere Copper Company. SOURCE
12-pounder bronze gun, Model of 1857 Specifications
| Tube Material |
Bronze |
| Tube Weight |
1,227 lb (557 kg) |
| Powder Charge |
2.5 lb (1.13 kg) |
| Range (5° Elevation) |
1,619 yd (1,480 m) |
| At Gettyburg |
142 |
The monument, marks the position of Battery G, 1st New York Artillery on July 2, 1863 and reads as follows:
(Front):Battery G.
(Ames')
1st N.Y. Light Artillery
—————
Engaged here with 3d Corps
3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. July 2, 1863.
July 3d, on Cemetery Ridge
with 1st Div. 2d Corps.
————
Casualties, 7 wounded.
(Back):Mustered in Sept. 22, 1861.
Principal Engagements.
Fair Oaks - Peach Orchard
Savage's Station - White Oak Swamp
Malvern Hill - Antietam
Fredericksburg - Chancellorsville
Gettysburg
Auburn Hill - Bristoe Station
Robertson's Tavern - Wilderness
Po River - Spottsylvania
North Anna - Totopotomoy
Cold Harbor
Petersburg June 16, 1864 to Apr. 3, 1865.
Mustered out June 19, 1865.
This place is crazy-ridiculous with monuments, memorials and markers (oh my!), as well as cannons, rifles and guns. The Peach Orchard and Wheatfield Road are a collective and veritable outdoor museum. Allow a minimum of one hour to walk around and fully understand and appreciate the history presented here.