Cumberland Township near Gettysburg in Adams County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

First Shot - Gettysburg

July 1st. 1863

Front of First Shot Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, November 1, 2008

1. Front of First Shot Marker

Inscription. (Front):First Shot
Gettysburg
July 1st. 1863
7:30 a.m.
(Left):
Fired by Capt. Jones with Serg. Shafer's carbine. Co E. 8th Ill's Cavalry
(Back):
Erected 1886
(Right):
By Capt. Jones, Lieut. Riddler, Serg. Shafer

Erected 1886 by Capt. Jones, Lieut. Riddler, and Serg. Shafer.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical month for this entry is July 1824.

Location. 39° 51.058′ N, 77° 16.844′ W. Marker is near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, in Adams County. It is in Cumberland Township. Marker is at the intersection of Chambersburg Pike (U.S. 30) and Knoxlyn Road, on the right when traveling west on Chambersburg Pike. Located in front of the Wisler House in a small tract managed by Gettysburg National Military Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Gettysburg PA 17325, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. The First Shot (within shouting distance of this marker); Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); Twenty Sixth Pennsylvania Emergency Infantry (approx. 0.3 miles away); Michael Crist Farm (approx. 1.2 miles away); Touring the Battlefield (approx. 1.8 miles

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away); 7th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment (approx. 1.8 miles away); First Brigade (approx. 1.8 miles away); 2nd Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry (approx. 1.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Gettysburg.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. The First Shot

Also see . . .
1. Battle of Gettysburg: Who Really Fired the First Shot?. HistoryNet website entry (Submitted on March 13, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

2. First Shot Marker. Stone Sentinels website entry (Submitted on January 9, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)

Left Side image. Click for more information.

Photographed By Craig Swain, November 1, 2008

2. Left Side

"Faded Hoofbeats – Marcellus Jones, 8th Illinois Cavalry"
Hoofbeats and Cold Steel website entry
Click for more information.

Back of Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, November 1, 2008

3. Back of Marker

Photographed By Craig Swain, November 1, 2008

4. Right Side

Wisler House image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, November 1, 2008

5. Wisler House

The marker stands on the left, next to the road sign. From the ground in front of the house, at around 7 a.m. on the morning of July 1, Captain Jones fired upon Confederate skirmishers moving up from Marsh Creek.

First Shot - Gettysburg Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Jacob McCandles, October 8, 2011

6. First Shot - Gettysburg Marker

Taken from the intersection of Knoxlyn Road and Chambersburg (30, or Lincoln Highway) Pike.

Marcellus Jones gravesite image. Click for full size.

via Find A Grave, unknown

7. Marcellus Jones gravesite

Wheaton (IL) Cemetery

The recently renovated house and grounds image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Larry Gertner, May 9, 2022

8. The recently renovated house and grounds

Credits. This page was last revised on May 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 9, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 3,373 times since then and 58 times this year. Last updated on June 26, 2011, by David Graff of Halifax, Nova Scotia. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on January 9, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 6. submitted on July 18, 2012. 7, 8. submitted on May 17, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.