The Prototype Mule Gun

[Xflash]

Went to Fort Sill, Oklahoma to see the cannons, thought this
was pretty enteresting

[Zulu]

Weren't there mountain howitzers fired off pack saddles on mules and camels?  I'm sure there were.
Zulu

[GGaskill]

There are lots of jokes regarding the firing of a cannon from the back of a beast of burden.  The US pack howitzer was not configured in a way that would have allowed the successful use of the gun from its packed condition.

[cjensen]

Didn't someone successfully use alligators back in 1814,
Cornell Jackson??

[The Jeff]

Here's a camel mounted swivel gun:

http://www.camelphotos.com/pic/army_camels5.jpg

[Cannoneer]

Xflash,
That is without question the most amusing artillery museum placard that I have ever read, and the cannon is interesting to boot.

[GGaskill]

Cornell Jackson??

Nah, I think it was Johnny Horton.

[Xflash]

I thought so too.
Thanks

Xflash,
That is without question the most amusing artillery museum placard that I have ever read, and the cannon is interesting to boot.

[Double D]

Cornell Jackson??

Nah, I think it was Johnny Horton.

Johnny Horton!  Wow George you have culture and sophistication just like me! Definitely old school!

[no guns here]

I have that song on my IPOD... and I'm only 42...  I must be really cultured and sophisticated too, huh?


NGH

[GGaskill]

While I heard that song many times in my younger days, I had to resort to the internet (search for "lyrics battle of new orleans") to find the singer's name.

[KABAR2]

I read this story about 20 or so years ago..........
I will try to find the actual reference....during the early expansion of the west it was decided
at on of the forts to show the local native population a demonstration of the mule gun......
after it was loaded as the story goes a fuse was used to set off the small cannon on the beasts
back......... now the mule didn't like the hissing sound and began to buck in a circular pattern
the cannon with each bounce would fling it's muzzle up and down as the Indians watched this
impressive display of the white man's might the soldiers manning the cannon ran in various directions
seeking what little cover there was outside the fort...... the small contingent of  officers did likewise
the stoic Indians stood and watched all of this as the cannon fired harmlessly into the ground........
needless to say the Indians were not impressed.....

[KABAR2]

Johnny Horton - The Battle Of New Orleans 1959 


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsRK3DNoa_Q

[brokenpole]

Cornell Jackson??

Nah, I think it was Johnny Horton.

Johnny Horton!  Wow George you have culture and sophistication just like me! Definitely old school!

I still have the song on vinyl.  What does that make me?  Cause I certainly am not cultured or sophisticated. 

[Double D]

I have that song on my IPOD... and I'm only 42...  I must be really cultured and sophisticated too, huh?


NGH

 

I still have the song on vinyl.  What does that make me?  Cause I certainly am not cultured or sophisticated. 

This board is loaded with this who appreciate the fine things in life- class, culture, sophistication-aloud smoky cannon we got it all.

[CaptTHighbiter]

FYI, the melody to that tune is an old Morris dance tune, titled "The Eigth of January" , likely at least 150-200 years old. Johnny just recognized a good tune and wrote word for it.