Ball on Knap's Culp's Hill Monument Replaced Again

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<div class="divcap">Once again, the "ball" has been returned to the top of the monument for Knap's Pennsylvania Battery on Culp's Hill. <span class="photo_stamp">This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 12:00 PM on Sunday, October 16, 2011.</span></div>

After another act of vandalism, the ball or sphere on top of the Culp's Hill monument to Independent Battery E, Pennsylvania Light Artillery (Knap's Pennsylvania Battery) has been returned. We decided to take pictures of it before it disappeared again.

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<div class="divcap">The monument was dedicated on September 11, 1889. The speaker for the dedication ceremonies, the Reverand D. Nicholl, stated, "It is eminently proper therefore that upon this field should be erected monuments which shall be perpetual memorials of the patriotism and bravery of the commands participating in the battle by which the decisive victory, so far reaching in its effects, was achieved." <span class="photo_stamp">This image was taken facing northeast at approximately 12:00 PM on Sunday, October 16, 2011.</span></div>
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<div class="divcap">Of course the vandals don't care about the story behind the monument. They just see an easy target to ruin. <span class="photo_stamp">This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 12:00 PM on Sunday, October 16, 2011.</span></div>
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<div class="divcap">Recent incidents of vandalism include the fact that on Thursday evening, October 12, 2008, the ball on the top of the monument was stolen. <span class="photo_stamp">This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 12:00 PM on Sunday, October 16, 2011.</span></div>
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<div class="divcap">It was replaced on July 8, 2009 at a cost of $3000. <span class="photo_stamp">This image was taken facing southwest at approximately 12:00 PM on Sunday, October 16, 2011.</span></div>
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<div class="divcap">The first ball received was not a complete sphere (it was flat on the top) and had to be replaced. <span class="photo_stamp">The image was taken facing north at approximately 12:00 PM on Sunday, October 16, 2011.</span></div>
<a href="http://i.gettysburgdaily.com/imgs/PAKnapsBattery101611/PAKnapsBattery10161107.jpg"><img src="http://i.gettysburgdaily.com/imgs/PAKnapsBattery101611/PAKnapsBattery10161107_s.jpg" alt="" /></a>
<div class="divcap">The new ball was thrown down the slope of Culp's Hill shortly after it was installed. <span class="photo_stamp">The photo was taken facing northwest at approximately 12:00 PM on Sunday, October 16, 2011.</span></div>
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<div class="divcap">So finally it has been returned to the top of the monument, and supposedly is fixed with epoxy or a similar adhesive. <span class="photo_stamp">The photo was taken facing southwest at approximately 12:00 PM on Sunday, October 16, 2011.</span></div>
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<div class="divcap">There are still challenges to be met before one sees the monument looking as it did in 1889. <span class="photo_stamp">The photo was taken facing southwest at approximately 12:00 PM on Sunday, October 16, 2011.</span></div>
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<div class="divcap">The bottom of the monument is still missing the Pennsylvania State Seal, and has been missing it for "years." It's not like the National Park Service doesn't know what the seal looks like so that they can make another copy, and/or raise money to have another copy made. <span class="photo_stamp">The photo was taken facing northwest at approximately 12:00 PM on Sunday, October 16, 2011.</span></div>
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<div class="divcap">The Pennsylvania State Seal is still on the monument to Knap's Battery located on Powers Hill. <span class="photo_stamp">This image was taken facing southwest at approximately 4:30 PM on Thursday, April 10, 2008.</span></div>
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<div class="divcap">Also, the monument to Knap's Battery on Culp's Hill has flank markers. Here's the right flank marker. The battery was facing towards Benner's Hill on July 2, 1863 and was credited with doing good work in driving the Confederate artillery from that location. But where is the left flank marker? <span class="photo_stamp">The photo was taken facing northwest at approximately 12:00 PM on Sunday, October 16, 2011.</span></div>
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<div class="divcap">The last time we saw it was about three years ago discarded behind the National Park Service maintenance buildings. Nobody has made it a priority to take it to Culp's Hill and dig a hole and place it in the ground. <span class="photo_stamp">This view was taken facing north at approximately 8:30 AM on Sunday, November 9, 2008.</span></div>
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<div class="divcap">But we should be happy that the ball is back on top of the monument. <span class="photo_stamp">The image was taken facing southeast at approximately 12:00 PM on Sunday, October 16, 2011.</span></div>
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<div class="divcap">If you get a chance, go see it before it disappears again. <span class="photo_stamp">This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 12:00 PM on Sunday, October 16, 2011.</span></div>
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<div class="divcap">If you can find a copy, the best book on Knap's Battery is Hurrah for the Artillery! by James P. Brady. Amazon currently has some copies. <span class="photo_stamp">The image was taken facing north at approximately 4:00 PM on Sunday, October 16, 2011.</span></div>