Gettysburg Artillery Part 6 With Licensed Battlefield Guide George Newton
August 6, 2009
Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide George Newton is standing by an 1862 3-inch ordnance rifle on East Cemetery Hill. The Evergreen Cemetery Gatehouse is in the background. This view was taken facing southwest at approximately 3:45 PM on Sunday, July 5, 2009.
In part one of our artillery series we featured a Napoleon manufactured by Quimby and Robinson in Memphis, Tennessee, and a 10-pounder Parrott Rifle, manufactured by the West Point Foundry in Cold Spring, New York.
In part two we concentrated on 24-pounder howitzers at Moody’s Battery, A 12-pounder howitzer, manufactured in 1837, and the oldest gun on the field, and some 20-pounder Parrotts.
In part three George showed the only 6-pounder displayed on the battlefield, and showed us how fifteen 6-pounders at Gettysburg National Military Park were converted into “false Napoleons.”
In our fourth post, George Newton showed us the artillery pieces used on headquarters markers, and the two monuments on East Cemetery Hill to Cooper’s Battery B, 1st Pennsylvania.
In our fifth post on artillery, George presents the highest numbered 3-inch Ordnance Rifle at Gettysburg National Military Park, and the positions of the artillery pieces today representing Cooper’s Battery and Rickett’s Battery.
In today’s post, Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide George Newton explains the advantages of 3-inch ordnance rifles, and the artillery bombardment involving East Cemetery Hill on July 2, 1863.
For George’s previous posts on Gettysburg Artillery please click here.
This map shows the locations of the videos that we shot on East Cemetery Hill. Videos #1-#13 were presented in our first three artillery posts. Video #14 was filmed on East Cemetery Hill at the headquarters marker for Major-General Oliver O. Howard. Videos #15 and #16 were filmed by the artillery marker for Cooper’s Pennsylvania Battery. Videos #17 and #18 and shot by 3-inch Ordnance Rifle #931. Video #19 was shot just southeast of the Equestrian monument to Winfield Scott Hancock. Videos #20- #22 were taken at the 1862 3-inch ordnance rifle in the position of Cooper’s/Rickett’s Battery. This map was created facing north at approximately 4:20 PM on Tuesday, July 7, 2009.
In Video #20 (Videos #1- #19 were shown in our previous artillery posts) Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide George Newton shows us an 1862 3-inch Ordnance Rifle and explains how reliable this weapon was. This view was taken facing southwest to southeast to southwest at approximately 3:45 PM on Sunday, July 5, 2009.
In Video #21 Licensed Battlefield Guide George Newton discusses the range of 3-inch ordnance rifles and contrasts the reliability of the 3-inch ordnance rifle with the 10-pounder Parrots. This view was taken facing southwest to southeast to southwest at approximately 3:45 PM on Sunday, July 5, 2009.
George Newton is standing on East Cemetery Hill in the position first occupied by Cooper’s and later Rickett’s Pennsylvania batteries on July 2, 1863. The light green/blue water tower in the left background is at the site of Camp Letterman near the York Road. To the right of the water tower are some light colored buildings. Below the buildings, in the trees is Benner’s Hill. This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 3:45 PM on Sunday, July 5, 2009.
In Video #22 Licensed Battlefield Guide George Newton discusses the bombardment of East Cemetery Hill and Benner’s Hill on July 2, 1863. This view was taken facing northeast to northwest to northeast at approximately 3:45 PM on Sunday, July 5, 2009.
