Petoskey in Emmet County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Site of the 1899 Department of Michigan G.A.R. Encampment
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., August 25, 2016
1. Site of the 1899 Department of Michigan G.A.R. Encampment Marker
Inscription.
Site of the 1899 Department of Michigan G.A.R. Encampment. .
This rare Confederate cannon marks the site of the 1889 Grand Army of the Republic Encampment
This cast iron Napoleon howitzer was manufactured at the Augusta, Georgia (CSA) Arsenal during the Civil War. Until its discovery, only the Tredegar foundry in Richmond, Virginia was known to have made iron Napoleon cannons. How or when the Augusta Arsenal cannon came to Petoskey remains a mystery.
From June 28 to July 5, 1899, three thousand former Union veterans and their families arrived in Petoskey to attend the 21st Department of Michigan Grand Army of the Republic Encampment in this park. The keynote speaker was Maj. Gen. Joseph Wheeler, late commander of the victorious US forces in Cuba. Gen. Wheeler had been a famous Confederate cavalry commander during the Civil War. Also in attendance was the U.S. Secretary of War Russell Alger who had also served as a Michigan Senator and Governor of Michigan as well as the first presiding Commander of the Michigan Department of the SUVCW. During the festivities a cannon fired salutes over Little Traverse Bay; it is possible that this was the cannon.
In 1996 Department of Public Works employees installing a new sewer line on Rose Street near Stafford's Perry Hotel uncovered what they initially believed was one of the original sewer pipes. After they washed away the mud, they discovered this cannon but with 12 inches of muzzle missing. In 2003, the damaged cannon was adopted by the Robert Finch Camp No. 14 with the goal of restoring it to its original condition.
The restoration was made possible by the following contributors: , . The Les and Anne Biederman Foundation, Inc. , . Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation , . The City of Petoskey , . Wal-Mart Foundation-Petoskey Store , . Charles Heffner [sic Heffer], Camp 14 and world war two Veteran , . National Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War , . Robert Finch Camp No. 14, SUVCW
June 21, 2008 the Augusta Arsenal-Petoskey cannon was dedicated in Arlington park in a public ceremony.
This cannon is dedicated to the memory of all , Little Traverse Region , Union veterans of the Civil War 1861-1865.
This rare Confederate cannon marks the site of the 1889 Grand Army of the Republic Encampment
This cast iron Napoleon howitzer was manufactured at the Augusta, Georgia (CSA) Arsenal during the Civil War. Until its discovery, only the Tredegar foundry in Richmond, Virginia was known to have made iron Napoleon cannons. How or when the Augusta Arsenal cannon came to Petoskey remains a mystery.
From June 28 to July 5, 1899, three thousand former Union veterans and their families arrived in Petoskey to attend the 21st Department of Michigan Grand Army of the Republic Encampment in this park. The keynote speaker was Maj. Gen. Joseph Wheeler, late commander of the victorious US forces in Cuba. Gen. Wheeler had been a famous Confederate cavalry commander during the Civil War. Also in attendance was the U.S. Secretary of War Russell Alger who had also served as a Michigan Senator and Governor of Michigan as well as the first presiding Commander of the Michigan Department of the SUVCW. During the festivities a cannon fired salutes over Little Traverse Bay; it is possible that this was the cannon.
In 1996 Department of Public Works employees installing a new sewer line on Rose Street near Stafford's Perry Hotel uncovered what they initially believed was one of the original sewer pipes. After they washed away the mud, they
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discovered this cannon but with 12 inches of muzzle missing. In 2003, the damaged cannon was adopted by the Robert Finch Camp No. 14 with the goal of restoring it to its original condition.
The restoration was made possible by the following contributors:
• The Les and Anne Biederman Foundation, Inc.
• Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation
• The City of Petoskey
• Wal-Mart Foundation-Petoskey Store
• Charles Heffner [sic Heffer], Camp 14 & WW II Veteran
• National Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War
• Robert Finch Camp No. 14, SUVCW
June 21, 2008 the Augusta Arsenal-Petoskey cannon was dedicated in Arlington park in a public ceremony.
This cannon is dedicated to the memory of all
Little Traverse Region
Union veterans of the Civil War 1861-1865
Erected 2008 by Robert Finch Camp No. 14 SUVCW and Concerned Citizens and Organizations.
Topics. This memorial is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical year for this entry is 1889.
Location. 45° 22.634′ N, 84° 57.202′ W. Marker is in Petoskey, Michigan, in Emmet County. Memorial is on Lewis Street south of Bay View Road (U.S. 31), on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Arlington Park, Petoskey MI 49770, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., August 25, 2016
2. Site of the 1899 Dept of Michigan G.A.R. Encampment Marker and Cannon
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., August 25, 2016
3. Restored Augusta Arsenal (CSA) Iron Napoleon Cannon
Credits. This page was last revised on December 7, 2020. It was originally submitted on September 16, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 433 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on September 16, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.
