Discussion How common were these cannon?

[Ethan S.]

I've been reading some of the civil war shot tables, for varying size cannon balls, and I've noticed some cannon that I have not heard to many of. How common were 1-3 Lb. Cannon, and what the heck were they used for? Did 18 and 24 pounders ever see field action?

Better yet, why can't I find any pictures of the lower pounder cannon? All I can find is a 2 pound Woodruff gun.

 

[bdtex]

My recollection is that some Texas troops had 2-4 pounders early in the war that were leftovers from the Texas Revolution. Not sure how many or what Civil War action they may have seen.

 

[redbob]

Two of the smaller guns were an Ellsworth Gun (1.5" bore) and a Hughes (1.5" bore) both breechloading rifled guns, try those. 24#ers and 18#ers saw action, especially early in the war with the South using the 18#ers probably more than the Union; by the Civil War the 18#ers were getting rather long in the tooth.

 

[UCVRelics]

Here is a great thread we had on just this topic.

Lt.Arty Three Pound Cannons in the Civil War | Cannons & Artillery

How common were three pound cannons during the Civil War? I could not seem to find them in Warren Ripley's Artillery and Ammunition of the Civil War. Perhaps I did not use the right terminology. A report of Old Abe the Three Pound Cannon, a pretty piece. From the Battle Creek Journal June 18...

civilwartalk.com

 

[CSA Today]

I've been reading some of the civil war shot tables, for varying size cannon balls, and I've noticed some cannon that I have not heard to many of. How common were 1-3 Lb. Cannon, and what the heck were they used for? Did 18 and 24 pounders ever see field action?

Better yet, why can't I find any pictures of the lower pounder cannon? All I can find is a 2 pound Woodruff gun.

"Whistling Dick" was a Confederate 18 pounder at Vicksburg. The Confederates had four Austrian 24 lb. Howitzers at Gettysburg.

 

[TomP]

The battle of Shiloh and the siege of Corinth saw the Federals use of four 24 pounder howitzers, as well as five 24-pounder siege guns. During the battle of Corinth the Union had ten 24-pounder siege guns. The largest weapons used by the Confederates during these engagements were 12-pounders.

 

[Ethan S.]

Which regiments, if any, used 1 pounder guns? Kinda like toys if you ask me.

 

[111thNYSV]

Dont know if id want to take a hit from a 1lb projectile...
Compared to the larger cannons, Im sure they looked like toys but still would be quite deadly.