160 Years After: Live Shell Found at Gettysburg Civil War National Battlefield

 Twenty days ago, a 160 Year old live ordnance shell from the Civil War was found in Gettysburg National Military Park! With all the people that visit the Battlefield annually, its amazing they are still finding things. Here's the story:

(Photo; The live shell at Gettysburg Civil War National Battlefield. Credit: National Park Service)

160 Years After:  Live Shell Found at Gettysburg Civil War National Battlefield

On February 8, 2023, the Gettysburg National Military Park reported that an unexploded ordnance shell was found within the Little Round Top rehabilitation area. The 55th Ordnance Disposal Company EOD (explosive ordnance disposal) team from Fort Belvoir, VA (U.S. Army) safely removed the shell before it was destroyed off-site. The EOD team gently washed off the mud to allow park staff to photograph the shell.

ABOUT THE CIVIL WAR BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG: Adams County, PA | Jul 1 - 3, 1863 Battlefields.org described the battle this way: The Battle of Gettysburg marked the turning point of the Civil War. With more than 50,000 estimated casualties, the three-day engagement was the bloodiest single battle of the conflict.

How it ended

Union victory. Gettysburg ended Confederate general Robert E. Lee’s ambitious second quest to invade the North and bring the Civil War to a swift end. The loss there dashed the hopes of the Confederate States of America to become an independent nation.

TO FIND THE NATIONAL BATTLEFIELD _ 

1195 Baltimore Pike, Gettysburg, PA, United States, Pennsylvania

(717) 334-1124

GETT_Superintendent@nps.gov

nps.gov/gett