Gettysburg -- dragging Jim T over to the darkside

[emike123]

I made a sidetrip to Gettysburg and Jim T graciously took me around (for the third time).  This time we got him away from his beloved bullets and looked at a bunch of cannon which I will discuss here and in another thread.  Feel free to chime in.

First up is a struck 12pdr US bronze Napoleon just yards from where Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg address:

[emike123]

It got nailed right at the trunion where the brown oval is:

[emike123]

I actually had never been in the cemetery before.  There are rows of graves by state and it is an extremely powerful mute testimony.

Before we went there, we examined this other bronze US Nappy which had a round burst in it:

[emike123]

Underside.  Jim asked if the artillerists knew what happened when it blew.  I told him I was pretty sure they did.

[emike123]

We went into the backyard of a resident, not a park tube or their property and saw this Ordnance rifle:

Serial #1.  Captured by the Rebs at G-burg and recaptured by the Yanks at Spottsylvania.  Pretty cool.

[emike123]

On the lighter side, another privately owned gun seen on this trip is this one famous from the opening of that TV show that predates me but that folks like Carl watched during college, "F Troop."  It is the one at the end of the clip where the wheels fall off when it is fired.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-K4BvF_sb3Y


Now on a stronger carriage:

[emike123]

Here's Jim trying not to look interested in artillery, but standing by a nice, early James rifle, just down from the New York monument in the background, not far from the copse of trees.

[Ghost of Mac Mason]

Jim "staying cool, playing pool," just like how I remember your big brother.  Don't forsake the lead and let these artillery infidels sway you from the one true path.

PS:  That burst gun was intact when I was roaming the sacred grounds.  I understand some teenage pyromaniacl deviants did that damage much more recently than the Civil War.

[gflower]

Great photos Mike! Got there for 2 days last year in September. A very moving trip. Gary

[Roy A]

That captured gun is pretty neat.

[CarlS]

The captured gun for those who might not recognize is a 3-inch Ordnance rifle.  General info on them can be found here:
     https://markerhunter.wordpress.com/2012/02/12/intro-to-3-inch-ord-rifles/
For more detail on the early ones which this serial number "1" clearly is see:
     https://markerhunter.wordpress.com/2012/02/16/early-3-inch-ord-rifles/
These were very durable guns.  As you can see #1 made it though the ACW and then survived all the metal drives of the world wars!  Very neat gun.  Thanks for sharing.

[Jim T]

Mike was back to Gettysburg again on Saturday.   It's amazing what you can put into a car without the wheels popping.
But I'm not ready to turn to artillery.  Mike's thoughts betrayed him. I felt the good in him, the conflict, the urge to buy bullets!  Mike, you underestimate the power of the Lead.  If you will not fight, then you will meet your destiny.

[emike123]

After 3 visits in a couple months, if I never hit that rotary full of motorcycles, tour busses and morbidly obese jaywalkers again on a warm weather Saturday, it will be too soon, your warm hospitality (& truly gracious help) notwithstanding

It's amazing how a rag abd some Armor All can restore the luster to that new car, at least new (1200 miles) as of Friday.  Note to forumites: never buy a used rental car one of us has used!

All this has me appreciating lead more and more.   Ironic that lead is relatively much lighter than iron!

Thanks again Jim for your help.   Your back will feel much better in a couple weeks!

[Roy A]

Speaking of motorcycles, whats up with the Gettysburg moped gang? I almost ran one of them over last time I was in town.

[Lamar]

I went to the last weekend in June relic show a few years ago - the same weekend of a Dykes on Bikes convention.

Quite a spectacle ...

http://www.dykesonbikes.org/index.php/about-dykes-on-bikes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gF14huC9HAA