While we're on the subject of cannons, I ran across some interesting things regarding the artillery tubes in Gettysburg.
It's pretty well known that the only gun now on the field that fought in the battle is a 3" Rifle, No. 233, near the Buford Monument. This gun, part of Hall's Battery, is credited as the first Federal cannon fired in the battle.
Turns out, most of the guns brought in to mark the field by the park service, were placed in the 1890s. Back then, records were kept of which gun was a veteran of the war, and at that time, over 100 of them cold be accurately placed in the position they fought. The NPS had over 4000 documents on the guns at the turn of the century.
Unfortunately, the records were lost, and as other Battlefields were being preserved, the guns were moved around to God knows where! Many were moved to other parks or other spots on the battlefield. Many others were melted and re-cast as monuments or tablets marking the field.
George Newton's book "Silent Sentinals", is a very interesting read if you're interested in the guns used in the battle.
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