THE Gettysburg Gun-Battery B, First Rhode Island

Here's my take on the action (attached) at the moment the "Gettysburg Gun" was captured, 7:05 p.m., July 2. I show the gun in red since it temporarily belonged to the Confederates. One other gun of the battery was also abandoned in front of the gap in the wall (the gap is still there). That little patch depicted in front of the 59th New York is rough ground (stones, briers, etc.). Those dots behind the 69th Pennsylvania represent men of the 15th Massachusetts and 82nd New York who have been driven back from the Emmitsburg Road.
 

Attachments

  • CemRidge1905 001.jpg
    CemRidge1905 001.jpg
    320.1 KB · Views: 180
Here's my take on the action (attached) at the moment the "Gettysburg Gun" was captured, 7:05 p.m., July 2. I show the gun in red since it temporarily belonged to the Confederates. One other gun of the battery was also abandoned in front of the gap in the wall (the gap is still there). That little patch depicted in front of the 59th New York is rough ground (stones, briers, etc.). Those dots behind the 69th Pennsylvania represent men of the 15th Massachusetts and 82nd New York who have been driven back from the Emmitsburg Road.
That seems to line up with the gun marker shown in my photo-thanks for posting-great map.
 
Here's my take on the action (attached) at the moment the "Gettysburg Gun" was captured, 7:05 p.m.,

A Hal Jespersen Map! I love these. If anyone is not familiar with this collection, check out this website -- the definitive source for concise, easy to read, easy to understand maps. I have most of these saved.

Thank you again for the presentation!
 
A Hal Jespersen Map! I love these. If anyone is not familiar with this collection, check out this website -- the definitive source for concise, easy to read, easy to understand maps. I have most of these saved.

Thank you again for the presentation!

Hal Jespersen is doing the completed versions of my rough drafts of unit positions around the battlefield, at frequent time intervals - above map is one such example of an initial draft. Over 40 maps have been done thus far, with another 100 or more to come. He also prepares the base maps, updated with my input on terrain features, like that rough patch of ground. I hope to have a book of these maps published in the future. I have 10 maps alone covering that same portion of Cemetery Ridge to show the fighting between 6-8 p.m. on July 2. Hal does a great job and is very accommodating.
 
I hope to have a book of these maps published in the future.

Puh-LEEEZE let us know when this book is available! I have been muddling along trying to print them with my colorless printer, and placing them in protective sleeves :smile: It would be nice if the book format was such that it could be carried around on the battlefield. I repeat: the Jespersen maps with your content are my absolute favourites!
 
Those maps are very well done. I save the "free ones" on my IPad for use on the battlefield. They are quite useful in explaining the troop movements plus I can never recall all the engaged regiments. I use those maps as well as book maps while watching Gettysburg Battle Walks on PCN. BTW, PCN didn't show any battle walks over the holidays.

Likewise I have been saving the Library of Congress high resolution Gettysburg then photos on my IPad as well.

Those maps are a very important tool. Thank you.
 
A Hal Jespersen Map! I love these. If anyone is not familiar with this collection, check out this website -- the definitive source for concise, easy to read, easy to understand maps. I have most of these saved.

I tend to prefer his for most of the features I create here on the forums like the recent one on Stones River.
 
Brown's rightmost section was about 100 yards due west of the Copse with the rest of the battery lined southwest of the section (paralleling the direction of the Emmitsburg Road). They were approximately halfway between the stone wall and the Emmitsburg Road.

The 82nd New York and the 15th Massachusetts, stationed along the road to Brown's front, stood and fought briefly with Wright's Georgians before retreating back to the ridge. The artillerymen, firing double canister, ripped ragged holes in the Confederate line but couldn't stop them. Lt. Brown ordered his men to limber up and move to the rear but one of the gun commanders decided to give the Georgians a parting shot. In those few moments, the gun's horse team was shot down and the piece was abandoned. Another gun was left about 20 yards from the wall.

Some of Wright's men attempted to turn the cannon on the Federal line but were driven away by Cushing's battery who fired canister into Brown's former position.

Ryan
I read recently of a reb who said of day 3 the yanks were about a hundred yards west of those defending the main line the wall. the yanks fought breifly with the rebs at the road then fell back behind the main line. Same defenders on both days using the same tactics?
 
I read recently of a reb who said of day 3 the yanks were about a hundred yards west of those defending the main line the wall. the yanks fought breifly with the rebs at the road then fell back behind the main line. Same defenders on both days using the same tactics?

The remnants of the skirmish line, most likely. I thought that they were gone by the time the Confederates came into range but there may have been some stragglers who fired a couple shots before heading back to the ridge.

Ryan
 
The remnants of the skirmish line, most likely. I thought that they were gone by the time the Confederates came into range but there may have been some stragglers who fired a couple shots before heading back to the ridge.

Ryan
I agree. Everything gets magnified in war. on day 2 the advance spot had up on line arty support. altho the material was available on day 3, no gun was used? What ever the case it's on Hancock's front, and the command will adapt.
 
Great information!

I was pointed here form a thread I made regarding Albert Gardner, one of the two Union artillerymen killed when the Confederate shell struck the muzzle of this gun.

http://varnumcontinentals.org/2018/...ble-alfred-g-gardner-american-civil-war-hero/

Albert Gardners Bible, given by him to his friend, Albert Straight, as he lay dying, is now on display in East Greenwich, RI, at the Varnum Memorial Armory Museum.
We are open by appointment (please, come down, it's easy and free) and have a nice Civil War collection
 
Come to think of it, I have heard of this gun.
33224v.jpg

LOC #3a33459 - The Gettysburg gun, and veterans of Battery B -
Notes: Portion of the printed title, "and veterans of Battery B" has been crossed out.
Copyright claimant: G. L. Hurd, Providence, R.I.
Library of Congress copyright no. 14263, Sept. 9, 1882.

EDIT: added LOC copyright line with date
 
View attachment 119162
I find one of the more interesting vignettes from the Battle of Gettysburg to be the story of the Gettysburg Gun which I'm sure many of my friends here are at least somewhat familiar with. This refers to one of the guns in Brown's Battery B, First Rhode Island Artillery that saw action around the Copse of Trees on July 2nd and 3rd. During the artillery bombardment prior to Pickett's Charge, the battery was in action just south of the Copse of Trees. As one of the guns was being loaded with powder, a very accurate or lucky Confederate shot struck the muzzle of the gun killing the loader and severely wounding the sponge man. The surviving artillerymen attempted to ram the solid shot down the barrel, but the shell was now stuck in the distorted muzzle. They even resorted to using an ax in their attempt to dislodge the round, but as the hot barrel cooled, it welded the solid shot in place. This disabled gun having been struck three times was then moved to the rear. The gun eventually was put on display in the Statehouse in Providence, Rhode Island, where it remained until 1963 when it was decided to bring the gun back to Gettysburg for the Centennial Celebration. It was prior to this move that someone thought of asking about the powder charge still in the tube behind the stuck shell. So the 1863 powder charge was removed by drilling two holes into the back of the tube and flushing out the charge. The Gettysburg Gun made it to the Centennial and then was returned to Providence where it can be seen today resting on a rare Civil War carriage. On the left in my photo, is the gun and the carriage on display in Providence and on the right is a close up focusing on the damaged muzzle and the solid shot that has been stuck in place since July 3, 1863.
Unbelievable
 
Here's my take on the action (attached) at the moment the "Gettysburg Gun" was captured, 7:05 p.m., July 2. I show the gun in red since it temporarily belonged to the Confederates. One other gun of the battery was also abandoned in front of the gap in the wall (the gap is still there). That little patch depicted in front of the 59th New York is rough ground (stones, briers, etc.). Those dots behind the 69th Pennsylvania represent men of the 15th Massachusetts and 82nd New York who have been driven back from the Emmitsburg Road.
Nice map!
 
Great information!

I was pointed here form a thread I made regarding Albert Gardner, one of the two Union artillerymen killed when the Confederate shell struck the muzzle of this gun.

http://varnumcontinentals.org/2018/...ble-alfred-g-gardner-american-civil-war-hero/

Albert Gardners Bible, given by him to his friend, Albert Straight, as he lay dying, is now on display in East Greenwich, RI, at the Varnum Memorial Armory Museum.
We are open by appointment (please, come down, it's easy and free) and have a nice Civil War collection
Would your museum be interested in carrying my book? My ancestor led the 3rd Ga charge on July 2nd, 1863 and was last seen standing amongst the captured RI cannon. I have a very detailed account of the action of Wright's charge. My ancestor was captured and spent the rest of the war at Johnson's Island.

I have the Gettysburg gun featured in my book. Above the High Water Mark.
 

Attachments

  • Corker Cover Final.jpg
    Corker Cover Final.jpg
    109.6 KB · Views: 120
Would your museum be interested in carrying my book? My ancestor led the 3rd Ga charge on July 2nd, 1863 and was last seen standing amongst the captured RI cannon. I have a very detailed account of the action of Wright's charge. My ancestor was captured and spent the rest of the war at Johnson's Island.

I have the Gettysburg gun featured in my book. Above the High Water Mark.

We don't actually have a gift shop....but I just ordered one for our library!
 
Back
Top