North Codorus Township near Seven Valleys in York County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
3-inch Rifles
Civil War Veterans
"The Yankee 3-inch rifle was a dead shot at any distance under a mile. They could hit the end of a flour barrel more often than miss, unless the gunner got rattled."
- A member of Lumsden's Confederate Battery, 1864
The three-inch ordnance rifle was the Union Army's cannon of choice during the Civil War. It was exceptionally accurate and reliable, capable of leveling infantry lines and destroying enemy guns up to a half-mile away. A skilled crew could fire three times a minute.
Pennsylvania Product
This kind of cannon was "born" here in the region. In 1854, John Griffen, Superintendent of Safe Harbor Iron Works in Lancaster County, patented the manufacturing process. Red-hot sheets of wrought iron were wrapped around a core, and then reheated. Once the cannon cooled, the core was bored and the barrel rifled.
The Guns of York
Congress awarded these four cannon to York in 1874. They originally stood guard in Penn Park, flanking the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial (shown in 1898). For protection against weather damage and vandalism, the cannon went into storage in 1975. They arrived at this site in 2007, on permanent loan from Capt. Edgar M. Ruhl Camp #33 Sons of Veterans of the Civil War.
Erected by York County Parks.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical year for this entry is 1864.
Location. 39° 50.623′ N, 76° 46.619′ W. Marker is near Seven Valleys, Pennsylvania, in York County. It is in North Codorus Township. Marker is on Glen Rock Road (State Road 616), on the right when traveling south. Located along the Heritage Rail Trail County Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Seven Valleys PA 17360, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Hanover Junction Vital Crossroads (within shouting distance of this marker); Hanover Junction (within shouting distance of this marker); Birthplace of Commercial Ice Cream Production (approx. 0.8 miles away); St. Paul's (Ziegler's) Lutheran Church (approx. 1.3 miles away); York Iron Company Mine (approx. 1.9 miles away); Glatfelter Station (approx. 2.6 miles away); Honor Roll (approx. 3.9 miles away); Jefferson Public Square (approx. 3.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Seven Valleys.
More about this marker. In the center of the marker is a wartime photo of a gun crew resting in front of a 3-inch Ordnance Rifle. On the upper right is a drawing of the iron works. In the lower right is a photo of the cannon at the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial. On the left is a strip map of the Heritage Rail Trail County Park.
Also see . . . Hanover Junction. An article from Gettysburg Daily discussing the Civil War related activity at the junction. (Submitted on April 8, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 8, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,090 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on April 8, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.