Author Topic: Interesting Spanish cannon type, 4 pounder Canones de Campana ca 1766 (Read 1322 times)

cannonmn · « **on:** September 15, 2009, 02:49:15 PM »

I've found a total of seven of these here and there. The two in the slideshow are at the US Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD. There are two more not far away at the Andrew Jackson statue across from the White House. Those are two of the four guns captured by Jackson at Pensacola, FL in 1818. There are at least two more in Memorial Hall at West Point. There's one more in a private collection in the US.

There's a good description of this model in SPANISH MILITARY WEAPONS IN COLONIAL AMERICA 1700-1821 by Brinckerhoff and Chamberlain, pp. 126-7.

Quote

FIELD CANNON, 4 POUNDER. One of two of the same pattern captured by Jackson in Florida in 1818, this cannon shows the later refinements in cannon design, based on French influence. Of particular interest, dolphins are not provided on this tube, a practice not uncommon on Spanish light cannon cast during and after the 1770's. In addition, the coat of arms of Charles III is not engraved on the breech as found on the regulation cannon and mortars beginning in the 1760's. The extremely long breech area is also noticeable in this piece. Trunnions on the low line, without rimbases, are not common on light artillery of the period in Spain. Stylistically, the cannon is typical of the period, but it is generally different in design from the regulation pattern adopted in 1756. These field pieces were known as canones de campana.

Since this was cast by Josephus Barnola, it is safe to assume that this was one of the non-standard design of light 4-pounders purchased by the Crown during the 1770's. Cannon of this type certainly saw service during the American Revolution, and throughout the colonial area during the later years of the North American Empire. This piece is mounted on a later American carriage.

Bore: 3.5 inches
Length: 5 feet, 4.25 inches
Markings: On the chase behind the muzzle engraved in a scroll is the cannon's name EL APOLO. The breech bears a later engraved legend relating to the capture of the cannon in 1818. Cast on the breech ring is JOSEPHUS BARNOLA, FECIT, BARne, 1773. Engraved on the left trunnion is COBRE NUEVOS DE AMERIG and on the right is engraved No. 11, 7-99-90 (symbol not on my keyboard) Pso Cno. National Park Service.

RocklockI · « **Reply #1 on:** September 15, 2009, 03:09:49 PM »

John ,you are always scaring these things up ..... honestly i've seen two of these public displays .

one on ambergries caye belize , a pitifull example of a VOC type gun mounted on a concrete corroded too no end .

and a really nice gun on a holland america cruise on the 'ryndam' .......a swivel gun i geuss , but the bronze patina just amazed me .....wish i'd have studied it more .......

the bunch i was with would look at me like i was stupid ....for giving it more than a passing glance .

Holland America = cruise of the living dead ..........

Cannoneer · « **Reply #2 on:** September 16, 2009, 06:10:37 AM »

Thanks for this thread, Cannonmn.

cannonmn · « **Reply #3 on:** September 25, 2009, 11:27:30 AM »

I just "found" another canon de campana in my photo files. This one is the first I've seen that was made in Seville and not Barcelona, Spain. It is dated 1762. The gun was captured at the Battle of Molino del Rey in the Mexican War. Interestingly, and unlike those cast in Barcelona, it apparently has no given name.

http://s17.photobucket.com/albums/b62/cannonmn/miscforumsetc/forums46/?action=view&current=9ca96a15.pbw

Author Topic: Interesting Spanish cannon type, 4 pounder Canones de Campana ca 1766 (Read 1322 times)

cannonmn

Interesting Spanish cannon type, 4 pounder Canones de Campana ca 1766

RocklockI

Re: Interesting Spanish cannon type, 4 pounder Canones de Campana ca 1766

Cannoneer

Re: Interesting Spanish cannon type, 4 pounder Canones de Campana ca 1766

cannonmn

Re: Interesting Spanish cannon type, 4 pounder Canones de Campana ca 1766