Powder Monkey

[tmh10]

Title: "Powder monkey" on U.S.S. New Hampshire, off Charleston, S.C.

• Date Created/Published: [photographed between 1864 and 1865, printed later]

• Medium: 1 photographic print.

• Summary: Young man or boy leaning against cannon.

• Reproduction Number: LC-USZC4-7947 (color film copy transparency) LC-B8171-4016 (b&w film copy neg.)

• Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication.

• Call Number: LOT 4182 [item] [P&P]

• Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA

 

[Dave Wilma]

In the Napoleonic Wars the Royal Navy used boys as young as 5 as powder monkeys. They were cheap, easy to control, and they didn't take up much space, especially during combat.

 

[tmh10]

In the Napoleonic Wars the Royal Navy used boys as young as 5 as powder monkeys. They were cheap, easy to control, and they didn't take up much space, especially during combat.

True , but sadly they came from dirt poor families that would sell their children for a crust of bread.

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

Great thread about this image at:
http://civilwartalk.com/threads/powder-monkey-in-3d-and-2d.77747/

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

Have always liked this one, thanks for posting him! Something about him makes you smile, doesn't it? Too young to be where he was, he's as sure of himself as if this were a kid in yearbook from high school. That's a cannon behind the casual pose. Whew.

 

[MissREP]

Have always liked this one, thanks for posting him! Something about him makes you smile, doesn't it? Too young to be where he was, he's as sure of himself as if this were a kid in yearbook from high school. That's a cannon behind the casual pose. Whew.

Yes. Somehow I expect he was competent at his job. Brave little lad...