Cornwall Furnace Tours and Special October 16 Civil War Event
Rich will be conducting tours of the Furnace complex at Cornwall Iron Furnace State Historic Site in Lebanon County, PA on the following days this Fall:
Saturdays – October 16 (Special Event – see below) and October 30
Sundays – October 10, 17 and Nov. 14 (normally 12:30pm tours)
Detachment US Engineers Visits Cornwall Iron Furnace
October, 16, 2021 9am-4pm
On August 19, 1861 Ironmaster RW Coleman received an order from the Bureau of Ordnance and Hydrography – Federal Navy Department, Washington City, DC for the making of “five fifty pounder rifled gun iron.” Thus Cornwall Iron Works was involved in the production of rifled cannon iron for use in the Civil War.
On September 12, 1861 James M. McCarter received the approval to raise a 3 month regiment of Infantry (PA 93rd) recruited from Lebanon County and Berks County. Now is the time to join the cause of saving the Union. “To Arms, to Arms, to Arms. All for the Union!! Now is the time to enlist!”
Join us on October 16, 2021 when the Detachment of US Engineers will help the potential volunteers (visitors) understand the story of ordnance production and the logistics involved in delivering that iron to the Federal Navy Department in Washington City, DC. On-site will be Civil War cultural interpreters including blacksmiths working a traveling forge, cooks preparing authentic foodways of the Civil War period, a surgeon and nurse interpreting medicinal methods, a wagon master/mule boss explaining the role of horses and mules and supply wagons, a topographical engineer describing mapping methods and the importance of maps, an ordnance sergeant explaining the various firearms used in the Civil War, and the Detachment Colonel giving you a glimpse of headquarters’ procedures.
Civil War Supply Train Wagon Boss Mahlon “Skinner” Tubbs Joins the Detachment, U.S. Engineers on September 4 at Gettysburg NB
On this special free “Family Day” at the George Spangler Farm at Gettysburg National Battlefield – learn from “Skinner” about the importance of supply trains and their horses and mules in the Civil War.
Other members of the detachment will talk about the important role of the Engineer (construction and topographical) in the logistics of the war as well as in the aftermath of Battle of Gettysburg. Topics will even include the building of corduroy roads and pontoon bridges. Also on-site is a Corps Field Hospital and period ambulance staffed by a period Surgeon from the unit on this special event day.
Access to the George Spangler Farm & Field Hospital for Family Day is available via shuttle from the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center. Free shuttle tickets required and can be reserved at: https://cart.gettysburgfoundation.org/16790/16791.
Face coverings are required on shuttle buses consistent with TSA guidelines.