Fort Hancock Civil War Cannon

Fort Hancock Civil War Cannon. . , This bronze tablet was erected by Lieutenant Chas. H. Reiley Post 567 G.A.R., Wyoming, PA, to make known in brief the history of these two cannon and balls., These cannons were mounted during the War of the Rebellion in the casemates of Old Fort Hancock at Sandy Hook, New Jersey, and formed part of the defense of the southern entrance of the New York Harbor. The guns were then dismounted and part of the Old Fort torn down to make room for the modern coast defenses. On March 23rd. 1900, a letter written by Adj. J.I. Shoemaker to Hon. S.W. Davenport M.C. in behalf of comrades of Lieutenant Chas. H. Reiley Post 567 G.A.R. of Wyoming, Pa., asking him to use his influence to obtain for their post two old cannons with a few balls to be placed in Soldiers Plot in Wyoming Cemetery or at the Wyoming Monument. On June 2nd. 1900, the post was informed by Hon. S.W. Davenport that two one-hundred round rifles and twenty, eight inch shells were donated to the post. On June 15th, 1900, a letter written by John R. Proctor Jr., 2nd Lieutenant, Fifth Artillery Ordnance Officer stating that cannons and shells then located at Old Fort Hancock at Sandy Hook, could be loaded and shipped to Wyoming, Pa., by Sgt D.E. Hopler, Battery L, Fifth Artillery., On July 3rd, 1900, these cannons were presented to the [Wyoming] Monument Association by the Lieutenant Chas. H. Reiley Post 567 of Wyoming. The address was made by Judge Alfred Dart. A response was made by Mrs. Fear the secretary of the Monument Association.