US 42-pounder Rifled Field Gun -- Navy Circle, Vicksburg NMP, Vicksburg MS
N 32° 18.759 W 090° 54.006
15S E 697690 N 3577028
An 1898-vintage US War Department blue table preserves the history and heroism of Battery Benton, which operated here during the 1863 Siege of Vicksburg with 2 42-pounder rifled field guns
Waymark Code: WMWCWR
Location: Mississippi, United States
Date Posted: 08/15/2017
Views: 3
A US War Department blue tablet erected at this site on Navy Circle in 1898 describes the actions of Battery Benton during the siege of Vicksburg.
The tablet reads as follows:
"U. S.
BATTERY BENTON
ACTING MASTER J. FRANK REED
A detachment of Battery E, 1st Missouri Light Artillery, under Lieut. Joseph B. Atwater, and a detail of enlisted men of the 34th Iowa Infantry, all under Acting Master J. Frank Reed of the gunboat "Benton," served two 42-pounder rifled guns in this position, Battery Benton, from the morning of July 1 to the end of the siege, July 4, 1863. A shell from the Confederate mortar at South Fort exploded in the battery, July 1, killing 2 and badly wounding 4 enlisted men of the 34th Iowa infantry."
What type of artillery is this?: 42-pounder rifled field gun
Where is this artillery located?: Park
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: 01/01/1898
Parking location to view this Waymark: N 32° 18.713 W 090° 54.006
Cost?: 0.00 (listed in local currency)
Artillery is no longer operational: yes
Still may work: no
Are there any geocaches at this location?:
No
|
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.