Damaged Napoleon at Chickamauga

[Georgian183]

I noticed this Napoleon with a damaged muzzle the last time my wife and I visited Chickamauga in March of this year. I doubt the cannon is original to the battlefield, but the damage is interesting nonetheless. It is posted near Poe Field along the Union position. Hope yall enjoy!

 

[C. Cash]

Love it. Not fun to have been on the gun crew when that came sailing in.

 

[uaskme]

Gun wasn't at Chickamauga. Only one cannon on the Battlefield was present during the Battle. That gun is at Robertson's Texan's Brigade position on the morning of the 20th.

Many of the Cannon on the Battlefiel, came from Gettysburg, per Lee White. Just the way they were warehoused and latter distributed.

 

[Dave1857]

Hard the see the barrel markings? Anyone know what they are? looking to locate Bronze Model 1857 12 pound Napoleon Cannons made by Revere Copper Company.

Thanks
Dave 1857

 

[GwilymT]

That's neat. I'm sure there is a good story behind it.

 

[redbob]

Post war, these were just old cannon and were sent to a number of Arsenal's for storage. When the military parks were being established 40 years post war; these old, antique, obsolete tubes were loaded up, taken to the parks and usually unceremoniously dumped on the ground awaiting placement. Often the damage that you see on bronze tubes are a result of this rough handling and not battle damage.

 

[gjpratt]

I had the same question and asked Jim Ogden about that damage. He said it occurred during the storage or transportation of the tube.

 

[redbob]

There is a picture of these old tubes just dumped like cordwood on the banks of the Tennessee River at Shiloh.

 

[bdtex]

Gun wasn't at Chickamauga. Only one cannon on the Battlefield was present during the Battle. That gun is at Robertson's Texan's Brigade position on the morning of the 20th.

I can't say for sure that I saw that particular gun on either of my 2 trips to Chickamauga. I'll have to try to remember that next time.

 

[bdtex]

I had the same question and asked Jim Ogden about that damage. He said it occurred during the storage or transportation of the tube.

My first visit to Chickamauga was in June 2016. Jim Ogden was our group's guide for 2 days. He shared several stories of wheeling and dealing and horse trading for cannons.

 

[R. Porter]

I thought I had read somewhere about similar damage to a cannon occuring during battle, but I can't remember any particulars and it may have been based on someone seeing some damage and making assumptions. Still, it seems like there was at leas one story based on witness descriptions.

 

[Russell]

Aside from obvious nicks and scratches I believe had this been actual battle damage the tube would have been replaced and sent to be repaired. I have read that tubes that couldn't be repaired were melted done and re-cast. I have also heard that a very high percentage of cannon tubes at Chickamauga were in fact used at Gettysburg so I doubt this tube was damaged there and sat around for the remainder of the war somewhere.

 

[gjpratt]

I can't say for sure that I saw that particular gun on either of my 2 trips to Chickamauga. I'll have to try to remember that next time.

It is on the short Poe Road extension of Battleline Road that runs west of Lafayette Rd. The gun is on the west side of Poe Road and laterally north of Poe house site. That's my recollection of my visit last March.

 

[Story]

I had the same question and asked Jim Ogden about that damage. He said it occurred during the storage or transportation of the tube.

But the stories grow as verdant as those for small arms at gun shows.

 

[Story]

My first visit to Chickamauga was in June 2016. Jim Ogden was our group's guide for 2 days. He shared several stories of wheeling and dealing and horse trading for cannons.

I'd like to read what specifics - even partially - that you can remember of his tales.

 

[gjpratt]

Im a Western Theater Guy. As far as I'm concerned, Jim Ogden is the worthy successor to Ed Bearss. His knowledge is vast and his anecdotes seem unlimited.

 

[stu613]

Im a Western Theater Guy. As far as I'm concerned, Jim Ogden is the worthy successor to Ed Bearss. His knowledge is vast and his anecdotes seem unlimited.

I agree. My last tour at Chickamauga had both Ed Bearss and Jim Ogden as historians and it seemed like they were trying to out do each other, much to our benefit. The two also did my "Drive on Atlanta" tour. Both tours were thru Marty Gaines (using David Ward's old company). What a combination- you just did not want it to end!!!!!!!!!

 

[uaskme]

I can't say for sure that I saw that particular gun on either of my 2 trips to Chickamauga. I'll have to try to remember that next time.

It is just South of the Brigade Marker for Bushrod Johnson's Brigade. We stood there when we did Longstreet's Break-through at the muster. It is in the woods.

 

[uaskme]

Post War, Chattanooga was a collection point for tubes. Estimated 800 tubes were collected. They were shipped to Washington or wherever. Park was established about 1890.