Mountain Howitzers 12 pounder

[AtomicSettler]

Here are some pictures of the mountain howitzers on display in my city, I thought you all would enjoy it.

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

Great photos and an interesting story.

 

[Poor Private]

I have worked on these type of guns. Morgan's artillery used them. They put out quite a bark when fired. I like them more than the big guns. You could display one of these in your living room.

 

[AtomicSettler]

I have worked on these type of guns. Morgan's artillery used them. They put out quite a bark when fired. I like them more than the big guns. You could display one of these in your living room.

Trust me, if I had one of these it WOULD be in my living room haha

 

[major bill]

Interesting cannon. Most countries had mountain howitzers, but it seem the U.S. trailed in this technology.

 

[drezac]

I have worked on these type of guns. Morgan's artillery used them. They put out quite a bark when fired. I like them more than the big guns. You could display one of these in your living room.

You can the others also... while searching for surviving guns from the State of Ohio's order of 4 batteries of artillery purchased in 1864, I found one of the 6-pdr M1841 field guns here. (one of the sisters to the 4 at the Statehouse)
http://www.iowacivilwarmonuments.com/cgi-bin/gaarddetails.pl?1337991227~2

 

[drezac]

Its great to see the local history kept alive, and good to see that the originals are in a safe but accessible location.

 

[Patrick H]

This is extremely interesting to me. I had no idea. Imagine the recoil with this relatively light piece launching a relative heavy projectile. It might have recoiled itself over to the next ridge! As my dad was fond of saying about certain firearms: "You might be about as safe in front of it as you'd be behind it!"

 

[Poor Private]

I already have these sitting in my living room: Both are 1" bore. Also I have a .58 caliber South Bend Cannon Works scale cannon called "The Continental" in a chest in the living room (we are using that for a coffee table). And several other fireable smale scale cannons on bookshelves

 

[drezac]

Interesting cannon. Most countries had mountain howitzers, but it seem the U.S. trailed in this technology.

For the most part, until after the civil war most artillery was used where there were roads, rails or water for transport. The need for a smaller, portable gun was not really there until we started moving out west, and by that time, muzzle loading artillery was being replaced by breech loaders

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

 

[drezac]

The one thing that is done differently for reenactments is the actions of #3 (services the vent) and #4 (Primer and lanyard). In the original drill, when #4 inserted the primer, #3 would cup his hand over the vent to hold the lanyard in place and protect the primer/vent, #4 took the slack out of the lanyard, and #3 remained with his hand over the vent until the order to fire was given. then #3 stepped outside the wheel, and #4 was responsible for watching #3 and not pulling the lanyard until #3 was outside the wheel. this was done to protect the vent/primer during combat. Glad we don't do that now. one mistake and #3 lost a hand or was run over (or both)