Gettysburg’s First Shot Marker

The tale goes that Jones obtained a carbine off of Sgt. Levi S. Shafer, another member of the system, and discharged a single shot on an installed Confederate police officer. It was apparently the first shot fired in what would certainly be the bloodiest battle of the American Civil War, and it missed its target completely.

On July 1, 1863, early in the morning, three members of the Union’s 8th Illinois Mounties were on guard obligation on Chambersburg Pike, Pennsylvania. Lt. Marcellus Jones detected what ended up being the 13th Alabama Infantry, a Confederate regiment, on their means to Gettysburg.

Adhering to the battle, there was some dispute as to that in fact fired the initial shots of the battle. In a quote to assert the honor on their own, the currently Captain Marcellus Jones, Sgt. Levi Shafer, and Lt. Riddler had a 600-pound tower quarried, which they after that gave Gettysburg and placed on a small story purchased from the proprietor of what is now known as the Wiser House. The monument can be seen from the road and still stands next to that residence.

The monument was put up in 1886, which indicates it predates an additional “first shot” claim mentioned by an additional routine, the 9th New York City Cavalry, by two years. The 9th has actually safeguarded their initial shot claim to the Gettysburg Battlefield Monolith Organization and erected their very own memorial pen in 1888. Because of this, two monoliths now stand to what may be the beginning shot of a monumental battle.