3-inch Ordnance Rifle, Model of 1861, No. 381 - Gettysburg, PA
Posted by: Groundspeak Regular Member Math Teacher
N 39° 48.814 W 077° 14.114
18S E 308674 N 4409455
There are two Phoenix Iron Co. manufactured 3-inch ordnance rifles flanking the Battery K, 1st New York Artillery Monument. The rifle to the left (if facing east) is registry no. 758 and the rifle to the right (this waymark) is registry no. 381.
Waymark Code: WMGNXW
Location: Pennsylvania, United States
Date Posted: 03/25/2013
Published By:Groundspeak Regular Member PTCrazy
Views: 6

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. Their trunnions are sometimes devoid of markings, however some examples have stamps on both trunnions. They always read the same: From the guns perspective, the left trunnion reads Patented Dec. 9, 1862 and the right trunnion reads, Phoenix Iron Co.. Their tubes do not have the breech band seen in the similar looking Parrotts, which distinguishes the two. The 3-inch carriages and limbers are also always equally pristine. This is an 1861 model but manufactured a years late in 1862 so this rifle may have seen action at Gettysburg. This model was also mass-produced by the Confederates as well, but not nearly as well made as their Union counterparts. The stamps on the outer muzzles of these rifles are almost always legible and often times pristine which allows tracing back the manufacturing origins a snap. I think this is due to the deep incising of the registry inscription/information along the muzzle as compared to other cannons which were much more shallow in their engraving.

Through my investigations, 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, limbers and on rare occasion (should you find them), the caissons have all 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. 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, limbers, wheels 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 rifles are located on the right or east side of Hancock Avenue (RD310) if traveling north along the road, north of the Angle, 47 feet south of the 11th New York Independent Battery Monument (MN220-B) which was attached to this Battery during the Battle of Gettysburg. The Fitzhugh's Brigade Tablet (MN535) is 31 feet south of this position. The 1st Company, Andrews Massachusetts Sharpshooters Monument (MN218-A) is 55 feet across the road and the Battery A, 1st Rhode Island Artillery Monument (MN219-D) is just a few feet south of that. The 14th Connecticut Infantry Monument (MN217-F) is across the road, 92 feet northwest of this position and the gigantic Major General Meade Equestrian Statue (MN690) is 165 feet northeast of this site. The monument is 432 feet northeast of the High Water Mark Monument (MN230) and Copse of Trees. The rifles point west, in the direction of the once attacking Rebels. This area is an absolute beehive of activity as this site represents the best of what Gettysburg has to offer, both historically and monumentally. Parking is plentiful and is available road-side at intermittently enlarged shoulder cut-outs, usually marked with white striping. Be sure to keep vehicles off the grass or you will be ticketed by park police. I visited this monument on Tuesday, August 7, 2012 at approximately 5:42 P.M., Eastern Daylight Savings Time. I was at an elevation of 617 feet, ASL. I used a Canon PowerShot 14.1 Megapixel, SX210 IS digital camera for the photos.

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 or 12 o'clock position and moving clockwise.

No. 381 ......PICo ......1862 ......T.T.S.L. ......814 ......FDY #413 ......GRVS 7RH

No. 381 refers to the Army registration number, a way for the military to keep track of the guns. 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. 1862 refers to the date of manufacture even though this is an 1861 model. 814 lbs 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. Many of these rifles are of the same weight (816 lbs) so the foundry must of had some advanced technology to manufacture rifles with such uniformity. T.T.S.L. are the initials of the inspector who gave the gun a once over before it was shipped out to the Federal army. The initials stand for the very famous Union Army Inspector Major Theodore Thadeaus Sobibski Laidley. FDY #413 is information not found on the muzzle but provided by the website. This is an internal control number specific to the foundry required by the Federal government. The carriages were approximately 900 pounds which makes this entire weapon over 1,700 pounds. The GRVS 7RH refers to number of rifling grooves, left or right twist. In this case, 7 right hand twists were made to rifle this cannon. If you were to look closely at the close-ups of the muzzle stamps, the rifling grooves are easy to discern.

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 Inspector
Theodore Thaddeus Sobieski Laidley (1822 - 1886) was an army officer specializing in ordnance. He was also an inventor and author. Laidley was born in Guyandotte, Virginia April 14, 1822. He graduated in 1842 from the U.S. Military Academy and chose a commission in the ordnance corps and served in the Mexican War. At the end of the war, he returned to the arsenal at Watervliet, New York, as Assistant Ordnance officer. Laidley was put on detached service to write a new ordnance manual published in 1862 which served as an important guide during the Civil War. He served on several ordnance boards designing and testing weapons, taking out eight patents. He was later president of the commission to test the strength and value of all kinds of iron, steel, and other metals at the Watertown, Mass. arsenal 1871-1881, retiring in 1882. Laidley wrote government reports and A Course of Instruction in Rifle Firing, Philadelphia, 1879. Theodore Laidley died in Palotka, Florida April 4, 1886. He was inducted into the Ordnance Hall of Fame in 2008. SOURCE, 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.

About the Battery
The 1st New York Artillery Battery K was also known as Fitzhugh’s Battery. During the battle of Gettysburg, it served as a member of Taft’s Brigade in the Artillery Reserve, Army of the Potomac. The Artillery unit was organized at Elmira, N.Y., and mustered in November 20, 1861. At the battle of Gettysburg the battery was in the Reserve Artillery of the Army of the Potomac, in the Fourth Brigade, which was commanded by Captain Fitzhugh. Prior to the battle, the men of the Eleventh New York Independent Battery were attached temporarily to Battery K, and two more guns — three-inch rifles — were added to the equipment. During the first two days of the battle the men were not actively engaged, but on the third" day the battery went into position, with the horses on the gallop, at the angle in Hancock's line, where the guns did good service in assisting to repel Pickett's charge. Seven men were wounded during the battle. After serving in the Army of the Potomac until March, 1864, Battery K was stationed in the defences of Washington, where it formed part of the Twenty-second Corps. It remained there until the close of the war. It was mustered out of service June 20, 1865, at Elmira, N. Y. The unit was commanded by Captain Robert H. Fitzhugh (1840-1920), a native of Oswego and graduate of Yale. He was wounded at Rappahonack Station (another source has it as Second Manassas) and again at the Battle of The Crater, Petersburg. Captain Fitzhugh was promoted to be major of the First Artillery, September 7, 1863, & Solon W. Stocking succeeded to the captaincy. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. Under his command, the battery had a total of 149 men engaged (from both units) (and 6 ordnance rifles) & among them there were 7 men wounded.

The monument marks the position of this Battery on July 3, 1863 and reads as follows:

(Front):
Battery K.
1st N.Y. Light Artillery.
(11th New York Ind. Battery Attached)
Artillery Reserve.

(Back):
Battery K, (Fitzhugh's), Held this position July 3rd 1863 and assisted in repulsing Pickett's Charge. Casualties, wounded 7.

Organized at Fort Plain, N.Y. Mustered in Oct. 10th, 1861. Principal engagements: Bolivar Heights, Beverly Ford, Rappahannock Station, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Mine Run. Mustered out June 20th, 1865.

What type of artillery is this?: Rifle/Cannon

Where is this artillery located?: Monument grounds

What military of the world used this device?: United States Army

Date artillery was in use: 07/03/1863

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

Are there any geocaches at this location?:
There are several virtual caches on the battlefield; traditional caches are not allowed. Physical caches can be found in town or anywhere nearby not on the battlefield.


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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