Some time ago Seacoast Artillery challenged us all to go out and find historical artillery pieces
Myles Standish link to Civil War Naval Cannon with Photos.
Seacoast listed the following locations for Civil war era Cannon's in Montana
Big Hole NB
Billings
Bozeman
Fort Benton
Kalispell
Livingston
Missoula ( 5, but all are privately owned)
Poplar
Virginia City
Shortly after they issued their challenge I stopped by the City park in Kallispell and took pictures and noted the markings on the 24 Pdr dispalyed there.
24 PDR Siege CannonWoodland ParkKalispell, MTGoogle Earth coordinates 48°11'57.99"N 114°18'5.43"W
Markings read:
Moulded in relief on the cascabel is 658
On the base ring is 5626
In the first reinforce about midway between the trunnion is US
On the end of the right trnnion is WPF
On the end of the left trunnion is 1844
On the Muzzle is No. 3
Here is the response Seacoast provided to what i found.
You have that correct, and you also found the Foundry No., 658, molded in raised relief on the cascable, but of course there are exceptions to this convention that is usually used for Army guns. There were very few of these cast and they are correctly called 24 pdr. Siege-gun, Model 1840. Pretty sure that only two survive in the United States today.
By the way what type of carrige would the Kalispell cannon been mounted on; field, garrison or naval?
None of the above. This was a siege gun and would have been mounted on siege carriage or, if used in a more permanent earthwork fortification or a seacoast fort, it, most likely, would be on a Wooden, Front-Pintle, Seacoast, Barbette Carriage. Thanks so much, Double D, for the nice pics of this gun. I bet your new winter-time motto could be: "Have snow-shovel, will find cannon". You are lucky to have this rare gun so close to where you live.
Anybody else find any cannon lately? Got pics?
Regards,
Mike and Tracy
Would the Wooden, Front-Pintle, Seacoast, Barbette Carriage be the one listed in AOP plans No. 83 Civil War 12 Pdr Siege Gun on a Wooden Siege Carriage and or No. 90 Civil War 32 Pdr Seacoast Gun on a Wooden Front Pintle Barbette Carriage and shown in this picture?
I need to get over to Kalispell and take some non snow covered cannon pictures.