Unusual cannon

[Trooper "D"]

Came across this unusual cannon going to be auctioned. Not sure if seen one quite like it. So had several questions for our artillery fans.

1. Was this cannon likely never in US service?
2. Would this cannon possibly been representative of militia cannon?
3. Assume not alot of weight goes with 1861 painted on tube, is it likely correct era?

https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/87/207/1861light-cannon-john-potter-marked-carriage-and-limber

Looks like a Parade/Political Rally novelty gun. Its being associated with that politician is its real value. One of a kind. I would dig around a bit for more info. It probably belongs in a museum.

 

[drezac]

At that time, cannon were sometimes fired to draw interest to political rallys and events ( and sometimes even by rainmakers) and as this gentleman was a politician, this cannon may have been built for that purpose and never intended for combat.

apparently that was done enough in Ohio that they passed a law making it illegal to fire a cannon in the streets. I can't recall the exact year right now, but it was sometime around the late 1870's early 1880's.

 

[Rhea Cole]

apparently that was done enough in Ohio that they passed a law making it illegal to fire a cannon in the streets. I can't recall the exact year right now, but it was sometime around the late 1870's early 1880's.

They may have had a point. In 1960 history buffs in Murfreesboro TN decided to Foote a morning & evening gun during the Centennial. An original 12 pound Napoleon dropped trail on the east side of the Rutherford CO Courthouse. As a safety precaution, it was pointed down East Main ST.

After a mizzle filled night, everything, including the box of news papers intended for wadding was thoroughly soaked. Having only the manual to go by, a full 2 1/2 pound (!) service load of cannon powder was firmly tamped into the breech by a wad of damp paper.

As the courthouse clock struck the fateful hour, the virgin gun crew touched off their first round. At that self same instant a well known lady of local social prominence drove her DeSoto through an intersection on block away.

With a resounding thump that echoed back to the horrified cannoneers & crowd of onlookers , the sold wad of paper hit the DeSoto square on the center of the back door. The hoop-la that followed can only be imagined.

After further study, the evening gun, loaded with a 10 ounce signal load & no wadding, was fired from the expanse of empty ground surrounding the high school.

 

[archieclement]

apparently that was done enough in Ohio that they passed a law making it illegal to fire a cannon in the streets. I can't recall the exact year right now, but it was sometime around the late 1870's early 1880's.

Poo they are no fun

 

[drezac]

From the Statues of the State of Ohio, 1890

 

[John Winn]

In the town where the cemetery I volunteer at is located (an historic mining town) there was once a man who owned several businesses and was quite the card. Anyway, one fourth of July he and a couple of his buddies decided it'd be funny to set off the cannon that was at the courthouse. So, they hauled it onto the main street and, not knowing anything about artillery, they just filled the tube with mining powder and put a fuse in the hole, lit it, and skedaddled (this was early in the morning). Well, luckily the gun didn't explode but it was so loud it reportedly broke windows and certainly caused quite a riot. He somehow managed not to get arrested.

So I don't doubt similar pranks happened elsewhere.