12 pound Napoleon cannon |
Vicksburg National Military Park fires an original Napoleon cannon. It was manufactured in 1862 by Cyrus Alger
& Co. from South Boston. T.J. Rodman was the ordnance inspector. It has a
rimbase number of 119, muzzle face number of 1168 and barrel with a weight of 1,230
pounds. The carriage and implements are reproductions. The park staff and volunteers
represent Co A, 1st Mississippi Independent Battery which fought during the
Vicksburg Campaign. During the siege, the company served two Napoleons. |
| Cannoneers at their Posts waiting for the command "Load".
The order for loading and firing the cannon (gun) are normally given by the Gunner.
Cannoneer #1 is posted on the right front of the gun holding the sponge/rammer staff. #2
is at the left front of the gun. #3 is at the right rear of the gun and #4 is at the left
rear of the gun. #5 is five yards to the rear of the left wheel. The Gunner is posted
behind the trail handspike. |
Cannoneers to your post |
"Load, solid shot!" |
"Load" - #3 is "tending the
vent" by placing his leather covered thumb on the vent hole to ensure that no air
passes through the opening. If he fails to do this properly, any remaining sparks from the
previous firing could be fanned causing a premature discharge of the gun which could
possibly injure or kill #1 and #2. #1 is inserting the sponge (a sheepskin covered piece
of wood) in the water bucket to dampen the sponge head. #2 is "searching the
piece" with the worm or wadhook, removing any pieces of cartridge, cloth or debris
that might be in the cannon tube from the previous firing. |
| #1 is sliding the dampened sponge down the barrel hopefully
extinguishing any sparks or burning embers from the previous shot. # 3 "tends the
vent" and #2 awaits the cartridge. |
Sponge the piece |
Ready to load |
#5 brings the charge from the limber chest (ammunition
storage) to #2. When #1 finishes sponging the piece, he turns the staff around so that the
rammer head is near the muzzle, tapping the muzzle when finished. |
| #2 hears the loud "tap" removes the charge from
the pouch and places the charge in the muzzle, immediately stepping back to his original
position facing the gun. |
Inserting the charge |
Seating the charge |
After #2 clears the muzzle, #1 introduces the rammer into
the muzzle and seats the charge by pushing the cartridge to the breach of the cannon
directly under the vent. After #1 finishes "ramming the charge" and removing
the rammer staff, he returns to his original position facing the cannon.
#3 continues to "tend the vent." |
| # 3 removes his thumb from the vent, takes a priming wire,
inserts it through the vent to make a hole in the cartridge bag. The priming wire is left
in the vent and powder bag until the gun is moved into battery (firing position). |
Inserting the priming wire |
Moving the gun into battery |
Prepare to move the gun into battery; "By Hands to
the Front, March." When the gun is moved forward to the proper position the
command "Halt" is given. |
| The Gunner points the gun depressing/elevating the barrel
as necessary and traversing right/left as needed. Sometimes a sight called a pendulum
hausse was used. In this case the Gunner is relying on his skill to sight the gun. |
Aiming the cannon |
Taking up slack on the lanyard |
"Ready." #3 removes the priming wire. #4
steps in, fixes the lanyard (a rope with a hook) to the friction primer and inserts the
friction primer into the vent. #3 holds on to the lanyard maintaining eye contact with #4
as he steps out to left and rear of the gun slowly taking up the slack on the lanyard. |
| Once #4 has fully extended the lanyard, he will turn his
head away from the gun at look at the Gunner for commands. #3 will step back to his
original position outside the right wheel. #2 & #1 will break away from the front of
the gun at "the ready". They will watch the muzzle of the gun insuring it fires. |
Ready to fire |
Firing the cannon
|
"FIRE" The Gunner gives the command to
fire the gun. #4 pulls the lanyard which causes the friction primer to ignite sending a
long flame down into the breech of gun which ignites the main powder charge. The noise is
deafening and the smoke is thick. With a full service charge and projectile the Napoleon
could recoil several feet. Since we don’t fire "live", the gun crew has to
return the gun by hand to the starting position. |
