RI’s Famous Gettysburg Gun Honored In State House Ceremony
Thursday, July 04, 2013
Known to Civil War aficionados around the world for the ball stuck in its muzzle, RI's Gettysburg Gun was honored on July 3 at the RI State House, where it resides.
On a humid afternoon reminsicent of the final day of battle at Gettysburg 150 years ago, more than 60 people gathered in the State House rotunda, where the gun is on permanent display, to commemorate both its role in the war and the sacrifice of Rhode Island troops who served at Gettysburg and throughout the Civil War.
The ceremony included the posting of the National, State and Military colors by the Honor Guard and the placement of a memorial wreath in front of the gun. The Honor Guard was composed of members of the Sons of the Veterans’ Reserve, The Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War and the 103rd Field Artillery.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTFormer Rhode Island Supreme Court chief justice Justice Frank Williams, a well-known Lincoln and Civil War scholar, spoke on the significance of the Battle of Gettysburg as well as Rhode Island’s role in the battle. About 1,000 Rhode Islanders fought courageously in the battle.
The Gettysburg Gun
The Gettysburg Gun, a brass field cannon called a "Napoleon," was manned by members of the 1st Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery Battery B, who participated in some of the fiercest fighting at Gettysburg during the second and third days of the battle. During Pickett's Charge on the afternoon of July 3, a Confederate shell struck the gun's muzzle, killing two of the solders manning the gun. The remaining Union cannoneers tried to load the gun and continue fighting, but the charge became stuck in the mouth of muzzle, where it remains to this day.
After the wreath was placed, the crowd was directed to the State House's south lawn to observe a 13-round artillery salute. The salute was under the command of Colonel Robert Edenbach, Commander of the Artillery Company of Newport and was supported by the Guards of Thunder. The ceremony concluded with the playing of Taps by Sergeant Michael Jackson. See below for images from the day, paired with selections from Chief Justice Williams's remarks.
