As usual, wonderful pictures RebAl!!
Another point on civil war era cannons that are now found on battlefields, parks, memorials, and such. I noticed this I remember that trip to Antietam, some of these Napoleons are actually 6-pounders with the first foot or so of the bore enlarged to resemble the 12-pounder. Otherwise the 6- & 12-pounders look pretty much the same. Though the 12-pounder was the common field piece of both armies, the 6-pounders saw alot of service, especially in the first years of the war. They were gradually replaced by 12-pounders, so that by Gettysburg, they were gone from the Army of the Potomac. The Confederate Army, by necessity, continued many of their pieces to late in the war, some serving throughout. The use of the 6-pounder to mark artillery emplacements in our battlefield parks was done due to a shortage of available 12-pounders.
Also note that the gun carraiges and wheels are almost all iron and steel in our parks. The original wooden carriages and wheels did not stand weathering over time very well and were largely replaced by lower maintenance ones.
Last note, at least at Gettysburg and Antietam, field pieces that were in service at those battles usually have engravings or plaques on or near the cannon that state its service.
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