Where did the cannons at Gettysburg NPS come from?

Question

I was at Gettysburg last week and there are dozens, if not hundreds of cannons decorating the park (and the town).

Where did they get them all? The Armies certianly did not leave them behind, they would have had to have been purchased by the Park Service at some point, I guess. Are they real? Are they replicas? Did the US Army retire them when they were obsolite?

Answer 1

These cannons became federal property after the war and were most likely stored for future use. They languished and when National Parks started up, the government basically transferred these guns to the parks, Many were probably in terrible disrepair and caissons , wheels etc had to be re-furbished. The actual rounds, shells etc. were probably de-activated and those you see are most likely the real deal also.

You'll note at some gun emplacements they tell you what actual types of cannons were there and it doesn't necessarily match what is currently on site At least it is that way at Vicksburg. The amount of guns are probably less also. The military ordnance yards were huge and the Park service was a good way to avoid scrapping many of the guns by making them outdoor museum pieces.

Many innovations in battle instruments were made during the civil war and you can almost see the history of cannons from the sites.

Answer 2

I wouldn't be surprised if a few were replicas. But only a few. Yes, they are real. The South and the North invested a lot of time and material in to cannons, and cannon technology in the early 1860s. Many did get left behind. The battle field is a very chaotic place, especially with the limited communications of the Civil War. All the battle seems to be right out in front, for example. Then it's over to the right. Then all the noise seems to be coming from over the hill. It's always changing. In that chaos, many items do get left behind. The same was true in both world wars as well. And yes, many were donated after becoming obsolete too.

Answer 3

Nps Gettysburg

Answer 4

Civil War surplus. Most are Parrot rifles, btw, not the more common (and more commonly destroyed on the battlefield) 12-pounder, commonly called the Napoleon.

They are all authentic, but have their barrels filled with concrete and so many coats of paint that you can barely see original metal or wood.