Cannon are being repainted in the High Water Mark area on Cemetery Ridge. Barbara Adams, shown brushing down the second cannon from the right, worked approximately five hours yesterday (Monday, June 9th) on the right cannon, and has been here today since 7:15 AM working on the same cannon. This view was taken from the southwest facing northeast at approximately 1:30 PM on Tuesday, June 10, 2008.
It’s a hot, humid Tuesday afternoon, and National Park Service Volunteer Barbara Adams is hard at work painting cannon. Others would have gone back into the air conditioning long ago, but not Barb. At the moment she is working on the four cannon representing the position taken by Arnold’s Battery A, First Rhode Island Artillery. It will take approximately two weeks for her to finish these four cannon.
Barbara is painting all the parts of the cannon and carriage that would have been metal, black. All the parts that would have been wood are painted green. Of course the carriages are cast iron, and there are no longer wooden parts on the carriages displayed on the battlefield. Sometimes Barbara is interrupted, not only by the Gettysburg Daily, but visitors seeking information and Licensed Battlefield Guides, National Park Service Rangers, and volunteers who want to come by and say hello. This view was taken from the southwest facing northeast at approximately 1:30 PM on Tuesday, June 10, 2008.
Barbara won’t bother painting the metal rim on the bottom of the wheel at this time. In a couple of days individuals from Gettysburg’s “Cannon Shop” will stop by with their equipment, lift up the cannon and carriage and rotate the wheels. This will not only allow Barbara to paint it easier, but it will allow a different part of the wheel to rest on the ground, alleviating stress. This view was taken from the southwest facing northeast at approximately 1:30 PM on Tuesday, June 10, 2008.
This picture should allow you to see the difference between the cannon closest to the camera position that has been painted, compared to the next cannon, which has only been brushed off. This view was taken from the south facing north at approximately 1:30 PM on Tuesday, June 10, 2008.
After Barbara finishes the four cannon of Arnold’s Battery, she will tackle the battery on the east side of Hancock Avenue, and behind Arnold’s Battery… This view was taken from the southwest facing northeast at approximately 1:30 PM on Tuesday, June 10, 2008.
… the 11th New York Artillery, and Battery K 1st New York Artillery. Their guns are in the foreground of this picture. The equestrian statue to Major-General George Gordon Meade is behind (east of) these guns. Barb hopes to finish the guns to the New York batteries by the end of June. This view was taken from the east facing west at approximately 1:30 PM on Tuesday, June 10, 2008.
Sometime in July, Barb hopes to work on Alonzo Cushing’s Battery A, 4th United States Artillery. She promises that it won’t be over anniversary weekend. This view was taken from the northeast facing southwest at approximately 1:30 PM on Tuesday, June 10, 2008.
But back to the task at hand. Here is the second gun of Arnold’s Battery which Barb is already prepping by brushing off, not only any dirt, but any paint chips. This view was taken from the east facing west at approximately 1:30 PM on Tuesday, June 10, 2008.
Barb has tried to set up an umbrella to help protect her from the sun, but it keeps blowing over. She said she really didn’t want to chase it across the battlefield, so she’s letting it take a rest for the moment until she can figure out a more stable solution. This view was taken from the northeast facing southwest at approximately 1:30 PM on Tuesday, June 10, 2008.