Stafford in Stafford County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Union Eleventh Corps Artillery

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, November 23, 2013

1. Union Eleventh Corps Artillery Marker

Inscription. Eleventh Corps artillery units in 1863 were equipped with 3-inch ordnance rifles and 4.62-inch model 1857 Napoleon cannon often referred to as 12-pounders. Ordnance rifles could fire a solid or hollow 3-inch, iron, buIlet-shaped projectile nearly 2,800 yards. Explosive shells contained iron or lead shot around a black powder explosive charge. The Napoleon guns also fired both solid and explosive cannonballs. Both types of guns could fire canister shot, iron balls inside a tin container propelled by an iron plate between the powder and the shot. Canister, once fired, spread out rapidly and was very lethal out to 400 yards against massed infantry. If Napoleon guns were “double- shotted” (a second round stripped of its powder bag and placed on top of the first one) 96 iron balls over 1-inch in diameter could be fired at one lime. Artillery placement in this area would have been driven by terrain, visibility, gun range and the threat. Battery #2, with its exceptional visibility and range in three directions, likely utilized ordnance rifles. Battery #1 covered the Potomac Church road and Daniel Bridge, both potential

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avenues of enemy attack. Battery #3 with its more open, less steep terrain, may have utilized 12-pounders which had shorter range and were more lethal in close combat. Several 11th Corps soldier letters and diaries describe the construction of the batteries or fortifications in and around this park to include deployed artillery. Unfortunately, documents found to date do not detail the specific units or type of artillery in each of the fortifications preserved in this park. Research is continuing.

11th Corps Artillery Brigade Units
1st New York Artillery, Battery I
2nd New York Battery
13th New York Battery
1st Ohio Artillery, Battery I
1st Ohio Artillery, Battery K
Source: Organization of the Army of the Potomac, May 31, 1863. OR Series 1, Part II, Vol 25, #40.
(captions)
11th Corps Ordnance
(1) 3-inch Hotchkiss shell (explosive)
(2) 12lb cannonball (case Shot)
(3) 12lb cannonball (solid shot)
(4) 10lb Parrot (explosive)
(5) 3-inch Schenkl (shell)
(6) Canister shot – 12lb Napoleon

Civil War photo taken near Atlanta GA of battery constructed with parapet and gun shelves similar to those found in battery

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, November 23, 2013

2. Union Eleventh Corps Artillery Marker

#1, Stafford Civil War Park — National Archives photo

3-inch ordnance rifle – Library of Congress

Erected 2013 by Stafford County.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical year for this entry is 1863.

Location. 38° 23.689′ N, 77° 24.203′ W. Marker is in Stafford, Virginia, in Stafford County. It can be reached from Mount Hope Church Road (County Route 677) 1.2 miles west of Brooke Road (County Route 608). Located in Stafford Civil War Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 400 Mount Hope Church Rd, Stafford VA 22554, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area,

in Northern Virginia,

and in the Piedmont.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in the Mid-Atlantic,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen

3-inch Ordnance Rifle (replica) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher

3. 3-inch Ordnance Rifle (replica)

Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Union Batteries at Accokeek Creek (a few steps from this marker); The Daniel Bridge (within shouting distance of this marker); Quarrying the Stone (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Buzzard's Roost (about 400 feet away); Potomac Church Road (about 400 feet away); Sandstone Quarry (about 500 feet away); Touring the Stafford Civil War Park (about 500 feet away); Union Infantry Winter Camp (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Stafford.

Also see . . . Stafford Civil War Park. (Submitted on November 25, 2013.)

3-inch Ordnance Rifle at Battery 1 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Shane Oliver, January 12, 2022

4. 3-inch Ordnance Rifle at Battery 1

Photographed by Shane Oliver, January 12, 2022

5. 3-inch Ordnance Rifle at Battery 1

Credits. This page was last revised on May 24, 2022. It was originally submitted on November 25, 2013, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 774 times since then and 36 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 25, 2013, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. 4, 5. submitted on May 23, 2022, by Shane Oliver of Richmond, Virginia.