The Napoleon 12-Pounder Field Gun Model 1857
(Left panel)
The twelve-pound Napoleon smoothbore cannon
was developed in France in 1853 and was named
for the Emperor Napoleon III. It was adopted and
manufactured in the United States in 1857.
It was the mainstay of artillery for both the Union
and Confederate armies during the American
Civil War.
Napoleon cannons were maneuverable, rugged and
dependable and were effective in long range fire
as well as close range action. The tube is made of
bronze, which is a mixture of copper and tin and
fired a twelve solid iron cannon ball.
This cannon was manufactured by H.N.H. & Company
and was the 178th gun produced by this company
in the Northern United States in 1863.
(Right panel)
The Napoleon 12-Pounder Field Gun Model 1857 Statistics
Bore: 4.62"
Tube weight: 1230 lbs.
Tube length: 66"
Maximum range: 1660 yards
Charge: 2.5 lbs black powder
Ammo: solid (12-pound ball), spherical case (shrapnel),
shell, cannister
Rate of fire: 3-4 rounds per minute
Crew: 7
Piece weight 2355 lbs.
Muzzle velocity: 1485 fps. (feet per second)
Total manufactured: Union 1156 - Confederate 501
Marker can be reached from Fort Jackson Road.
Courtesy hmdb.org
