Civil War Cannon, USA 1857

Description of the Product

The Canon obusier de 12 , also known as the "Canon de l’Empereur" was a type of shell-gun cannon developed by France in 1853. Its performance and versatility allowed it to replace all the previous field guns. It was light enough to be moved rapidly on the battlefield by horses, heavy enough to destroy field fortifications almost a mile away, and versatile enough to fire solid shot, shell, spherical case, and canister.

In the United States it was known as the “12-pounder Napoleon” after Emperor Napoleon III. It was the primary cannon used in the American Civil War, which took place between 1861 and 1865. Over 1,100 such Napoleons were manufactured by the North, and 600 by the South. At the battle of Gettysburg in 1863, a turning point of the war, 36% of Union guns were Napoleons. It was widely admired because of its safety, reliability, and killing power, especially at close range.

Four years after the start of the war, Confederate General Robert E. Lee, with an army dwindled by casualties and desertions, decided that it was best to surrender. On April 9, 1865, a meeting was arranged with General Ulysses S. Grant to sign the document of surrendering to the Confederate Army. President Andrew Jackson declared the official end of the war on August 20, 1866.

• Made of cast metal
• Ideal for collectors of historical memorabilia, and as decoration
• Length: 19 cm
• Weight: 590 g
• Manufacturer: Denix, Spain