Cajun Pawn Stars: Colfax Massacre-Mills cannon

[Double D]

Cajun Pawns Stars http://www.history.com/shows/cajun-pawn-stars/videos/playlists/full-episodes#cajun-pawn-stars-mumbo-gumbo

On the show they have a cannon that they say was the  cannon used in the  Colfax Massacre in 1873.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colfax_massacre.  Not a very sterling part of our history, but history none the less.

Cannon is described as a Mills cannon made in 1840 in  New Orleans.  The Wikipedia article describes the cannon used in the Massacre as a 4 pounder firing Iron slugs.













So what do  think guys?

Is this the Colfax Massacre Cannon?

Is this a Mills  Cannon?

Was there a Mills cannon?

What is this really?

[KABAR2]

By the looks of it the carriage and wheels are more modern replacements, I find it difficult to believe this was made in 1840 the lines don't look right it looks like something made up by someone who thought they knew what a cannon looked like and went from there..... trunnion ring is rather err.... robust to say the least......makes the whole thing look clunky.... is there a written history on the massacre? perhaps somewhere there is a better detailed discription.....

[Cannoneer]

I don't know, my antennae are vibrating here, something's not kosher about the history claimed for this cannon.

[dominick]

Someone should check with the Civil War Guru, he would certainly know. 

[shred]

Square-tubing for the carriage?  The wheels are bizzare-- the S-curve thing was done to cast pulley wheels to avoid some shrink problems, but those aren't cast and there are too many spokes to begin with.

Then again, I heard one of the Pawn/Storage/Whatever "Reality" guys is suing saying the whole thing is fixed anyway.. who knew?

[Max Caliber]

The wheels appear to be machinery drive belt wheels.

[Double D]

Gents, I find the entire carriage thing the most credible part.  Look at some of the stuff folks come up with here to build a carriage for a barrel they got.   I'll bet  Cannonmn has seen any number of old barrels on cobble up carriages.

What about the barrel?

[Artilleryman]

I agree that the carriage is something made up in more recent times.  The big question is the barrel.

[Cannoneer]

Someone should check with the Civil War Guru, he would certainly know. 

I can hear the Guru now: Highly desirable collectible, airtight provenance, one of a kind historic artifact, my estimate on this piece, $25,000.00.

[Double D]

So has any one ever heard of the  Mills cannon works in  New Orleans?

[GLS]

http://www.theatlantic.com/past/docs/issues/2003/07/rubin.htm
This article may add some info on the cannon.

[Double D]

Sad part of our history for sure.

More conjecture about the cannon also

 

"And they got a two-pound cannon and brought it down on a boat, the first ironclad ship ever to sail on the Red River.

Wikipedia says 4 Pdr.  From size of the bore compared to a mans hand it looks closer to 4 inch or in the range of an 6 Pdr or slightly larger

"Ben Littlepage up there still has that cannon, sittin' on his front lawn."

Ben is the old gentleman in the TV show.

"...and with a little twenty-four inch cannon (sent to the white people by Capt. Bill Boardman, owner and captain of the large steel hull steam-boat W.F. Moore,)..."

[Artilleryman]

Very interesting article.  The description of the cannon in the article seems to fit the photos shown here as far as the barrel is concerned.  I think the carriage however is from a more modern time.

[KABAR2]

After reading the artical I am thinking the dating of the little cannon to the 1840's was by people who did not know artillery to inhance their story.... and made up a date.... as to where it was made who knows..... there were many foundries by it's style it could have been made in the late 1860's or early 70's probably a gerneric gun that could be used by veterns groups or as a signal gun.... carraige looks later are the cheeks and frame welded or riveted?

[Double D]

There is little question the carriage is an add on.  It's the barrel that is question mark.  What is it?  I just have a funny feeling  this thing is real.

I like saying stuff like because folks really go  to work to prove me wrong.  I don't mind being wrong if we get the right answer.

[BoomLover]

As far as the "robust" Trunnion Ring...I have seen such as this, in fact, a  friend of mine has a Spanish cannon with a rather "Robust-er" Trunnion Ring even than this one. And didn't the "Screw Gun"  have just such a Trunnion Ring? Had to be "ROBUST" to insure the two halves would stay together....Just wondering.....