Presentation for Chesapeake Chapter, Company of Military Historians, - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Presentation for Chesapeake Chapter, Company of Military Historians, Alexandria, VA 12/1/2012 A Few Guns and Their Stories* By John Morris * All weapons described will be available for inspection at the presentation The numbered weapons
Presentation for Chesapeake Chapter, Company of Military Historians, Alexandria, VA 12/1/2012
“A Few Guns and Their Stories”*
By John Morris
*All weapons described will be available for inspection at the presentation
The numbered weapons below are those discussed in this presentation
Hackbut ca. 1510
fighting for Holy Roman Empire
Hampton P. Howell, jr.
Schellenberg Coat of Arms on Hackbut
Ulrich Schellenberg’s Sword (Kunsthistoriches Museum, Vienna)
Double-Hackbut (Doppfelhaken) complete (Germanischesmuseum, Nuremberg)
GAVILAN” Taken from CSA in 1862
accordingly).
Augustine FL, from about 1780-1834
bronze mortars, one 7-inch* and one 11-inch*, to become US property.
(exact date is incorrect, should be March 8.)
returning from Fernandina; undoubtedly those mortars were EL GAVILAN (7”) and EL ICARO (11”.)
Brady photo of mortar outside museum.)
scrapyard.
– Spain’s system of measures changed in about 1812, so 6 inch pre-1812=7 inch afterward
“El Gavilan” is the 6” Mortar Shown in this Table from Manucy’s “Artillery Through the Ages”
6-in mortar-
Report of the State of the Artillery at St. Augustine, FL for year of 1790
Gunpowder Status Report (unrelated to my topic, but I think it’s neat)
20 June 1821, US Commissioner to Spanish Commissioner
“Brass Mortars: 11 inch,1; 7 inch,1”
Deck Log, USS Flag, 8 March 1862
USS Flag, 8 March 1862
Gun of Lt. Wm. L. Robe
Addendum for Lt. Robe trophy cannon
when plundered ca. 1950
had an engraver friend apply his initials to the piece
summer home in Clinton, NY., along with other Philippine Insurrection artifacts
Pedrero marked “AMG” on Original Carriage
Grant-Root-Griffiths Family Connections
Elihu Root (1845-1937) Sec. of War 1899-1904, Sec. of State 1905-1909, Nobel Peace Prize Winner… Elihu Root's daughter Edith married U.S. Grant III, and their daughter Edith Grant married D.W. Griffiths; her stepson R.F. Griffiths was a member of Hamilton College class of 1940. Here's a summary of info about that house variously known as the Root House, the Grant House, and now the Elihu Root House:
administrative quarters.
Catalog of the Ordnance Museum, West Point, NY, 1929, pp. 131. See No. 4395.
Museum Brass Tag “269”
as having been captured in the Philippines, 1900
weapons by USMA to WWII scrap drives, resulting in loss of any Government claim to that material
Catalog of the Ordnance Museum, West Point, NY 1929, pp. 201
Catalog Entry: “Fig. 269. 2.15-inch Bronze Cannon on Filipino Carriage; Captured from Insurgents in the Philippine Islands”
by Prof. Daniel Treadwell, 1844
19th C.
composite cannon barrels of his invention
defects
PRINCETON on Potomac River near DC
Sons and appear in some of their catalogs
Treadwell 6-pounders were known to survive
Company of NJ ca. 1996.
Fort Monroe Arsenal Va November 10th 1843
Sir, In compliance with orders to that effect from the Department I commenced on the 1st. Inst. the trial of two of the wrought iron and steel guns manufactured by Daniel Treadwell of Cambridge, Mass. The instructions from the Ordnance Office of the 30th of July 1840 relative to the firing of two brass 6 pounders were followed as closely as possible. The ammunition was fixed as for Service and prepared with the greatest care. The shot were selected from the best on hand. The powder was all of Dupont’s manufacture of 1837-giving a proof range from 275 to 290 yards and the cartridges were so filled by alternate tens from the different barrels as to divide the powder up uniformly among them. The charge was 1/5 weight of the shot. The guns used were nos. 1 and 8 (no. 7 gun was not sent.) They were so selected because the dimensions of the trunnion bands were different, and this was supposed to be one of the weak points of these guns. The guns were inspected with a mirror & measured with a calibre plate at every inch of the bore from 1 inch of the bottom to the muzzle after every 30th round, up to the 150th fire. The results are given in the annexed table.
Letter-Lt. L.A.B. Walbach to Capt. Benj. Huger, Nat. Archives RG156, Entry 210, File Ex-1a-105
As on trial with the instrument, there was very little apparent increase after firing several rounds, the measurements were only noted down after the 30th fire, up to the 150th, after the 60th up to the 270, after the 100th up to 370, and again after the 30th, 50th, and up to the end of firing.
marked on the band & upper surface of the gun in the vertical plane thru the axis of the piece, and the departure of the line on the gun from that on the band was noted at every fire. Its motion was continually one to the right, tho not uniform-at times passing through a span of 0.01 in. & at others of 0.020 at a single discharge. At the end of the 150th round the position of the vent was 1.44 inches to the right of the
to the Col. of Ordnance for further instructions. The firing of No. 8 gun was continued up to the 450th round, when it became unserviceable in consequence of the opening of a cross sectional seam at 32 inches from the muzzle-It forms nearly a semi-circular fissure on the bottom of the bore. After the 440th fire while washing
below this point, which for the time I took to be accidental, but on inserting the thoroughly wetted sponge, for the washing & cooling of the gun after the next 10 fires (450th) the water was seen to run freely from this opening.
Walbach to Huger (cont’d-2)
I noted in my first inspection of the gun, before the commencement of the firing, a semi- annular groove or indentation at 32 inches from the muzzle; its depth by measurement did not exceed 2/1000 of an inch. I regarded it as a “ringbore” some of the chips engaging with the tool in the boring of the gun. At every measurement the defect was carefully observed. Though it gave no increase in dimension toward the close of the firing the searcher became slightly engaged, but could be passed beyond it and withdrawn ___ ? ___? ___? the springs; the same is now the case, except that ___? _____ ? ______? towards the breech from this
The vent of no. 1 gun measured before firing: At top, lengthwise or along axis of gun 0.19 “ “ “ breadthwise 0.18 At bottom the same as at top. & After 150th fire, as follows: At top, lengthwise, 0.19 breadthwise 0.18 At bottom, or its intersection with the bore lengthwise 0.21 breadthwise 0.19
Walbach to Huger- (cont’d, 3)
Both guns appear to wear remarkably well. At the bed of the ball, gun No. 8 showed an increase, after the 450th fire, of only 0.005 inch while in Ames’ brass 6 pdr. No. 69 and in the Leige brass 6 pdr. No. 1, the increase at this point, after sustaining only 440 fires under similar circumstances, amounted to 0.41 in. & 0.21 in., respectively. Thus the wrought iron and steel guns up to the 450th fire, appear to have a greater degree of durability than the brass guns; and when compared with Ames’ brass gun No. 69, this durability is in the ratio of 8 1/5 to 1. And when with the Belgian brass gun No. 1 is 4 1/5 to 1. Whether this ratio would remain the same under a further trial say as high as 1200 rounds remains to be determined. No. 8 gun having become unserviceable at the 450th round, the firing was discontinued and the result reported to the Col. of Ordnance. Very Respectfully, Your Obt. Servt. L.A.B. Walbach
The vent of gun No. 8, after the 150th round, did not vary sensibly from that of No. 1. (Ed. Note: one-half page of detailed description of vent of No. 8 after 300th fire, and after 450th fire, including sketches, has been omitted from transcript as it does not relate to gun
Walbach to Huger (conclusion)
By Daniel Treadwell 1856
By Daniel Treadwell 1861
By Daniel Treadwell 1864
By Morrill Wyman 1888
1812-...) Entry 210, Experiments: Files Ex-1A-105 of August 1843 and numerous others until at least 1858, under names Treadwell, Wade, Baker, Huger, Walbach. These files consist of one trifold letter each, usually from the named correspondent to the Chief of Ordnance, reporting the results of a firing test or series of tests.
DANIEL TREADWELL AND HIS GUNS, PARTIAL BIBLIOGRAPHY
Pounder Breechloading Rifled Cannon
photos/drawings/specifications
pieces of that type and other types
Invention, the 9-inch Shellgun
1850’s
such a model .
calculations, drawings, and notations regarding miniature, scale models of two different 9- Inch Shellgun designs, known as “Number 1” and “Number 2” respectively
regarding the optimum placement of the trunnions for desired balance.
Dahlgren’s Design Notebook for the Nine-Inch Shell Guns (L.O.C., Dahlgren Collection)
Appendix 1 follows
Appendix 1: Biography of COL Antonino M. Guevara
Colonel Antonino Guevara Revolutionary colonel Antonino M. Guevara was born in San Pedro Tunasan, “the first pueblo” of the province of Laguna. His nom de guerre in the Katipunan was “Matatag”. He was an unlikely revolutionary. He belonged to the land-owning elite and was educated in Spanish. As an intellectual, however, he was influenced by the writings of Dr. Jose Rizal. He became an active participant in the revolution, from its Katipunan days up to its dissolution during the second phase. In 1897, owing to the unjust practices of the Spanish hacienda overseer, Guevara chose to vacate his land for the town of Muntinlupa, where he would find-
banned Noli Me Tangere and supporting the Propaganda Movement by disseminating the similarly banned La Solidaridad, the movement’s official organ. The Spanish friar Jose Rodriguez hurled the accusations against him. Guevara had actually joined the Katipunan a year earlier, on August 1, 1896, with the help of one of its members, Mariano Crisostomo. Three days after the Katipunan’s discovery later that month, he joined his comrades in leaving the Katipunan meeting house in Trozo, Manila to avoid an impending raid, and marched toward Daang-Toro. On August 25, they had an encounter with the Guardia Civil in Pasong Tamo. They were greatly outnumbered. Fortunately, a timely rainfall, and the fact that the area was thickly forested saved them. They then proceeded to Taguig, Pasig, and Pateros, to tell their other comrades that the revolution was already underway and to be prepared for the planned simultaneous uprisings on the 29th of August. On August 30, Guevara left for his hometown. Learning that an order for his arrest had been out for days, he fled immediately to the Paliparan forest, and hence to Pasong Buaya. It was there that he received news of the successive military victories of the rebels led by General Emilio Aguinaldo. Thus, he decided to go to Cavite, where he met not only Aguinaldo but also other revolutionary leaders like Generals Vito Belarmino, Mariano Trias, and Artemio Ricarte. After some time, Colonel Guevara returned to San Pedro Tunasan. Aguinaldo had instructed him not to begin as yet the planned uprising in his hometown as this would only cause its loss as a vital link of communication between Laguna and Manila. He was also instructed to find at once a smelter needed for the manufacture of bolos in Cavite.
It was during this period that he established a Katipunan chapter, called “Katipunan Matatag” after his own alias, in his
it became easier for him to aid and promote the revolution by sending supplies of medicines and munitions to Cavite. He also foiled the spies of the other side by raising more funds and, more importantly, recruiting more members. He was able to produce 4,000 new bolos, manufactured from a huge smelter he himself had assembled. In December 1896, he and his men helped General Crispulo Aguinaldo in building trenches between the towns of Muntinlupa and San Pedro Tunasan. Later, he was also tasked to aid refugees caught in crossfire by moving them to safer
In early 1897, Guevara joined the group of Katipunan Supremo Andres Bonifacio, his brother Procopio, Alejandro Santiago, Apolonio Samson, and others, in Indang, Cavite. He served as courier for the supremo, to carry letters to Katipunan brains Emilio Jacinto. According to General Ricarte in his memoirs, Guevarra was with Bonifacio’s group when soldiers loyal to newly elected president Aguinaldo, attacked them. Guevarra wrote Jacinto in Laguna about the treacherous assault, in a letter dated May 3, 1897. In another letter to Jacinto, he wrote about his decision to request General Paciano Rizal for arms instead of the “Magdalo people,” so as not to have “to recognize them as chiefs.” After the execution of the Bonifacios brothers, it was Colonel Guevara who accompanied the Supremo’s widow, Gregoria de Jesus, to San Pedro Tunasan, taking her away from lecherous Magdalo loyalists. Guevara was directly under the command of General Rizal, who headed the Laguna area at the time. He helped supervise the assignment of spies and the replenishment of funds for the procurement of arms. In 1897, he successfully conducted elections for the Sanggunian (town president) in various towns for fund-raising purposes. In December of that year, he was
That same month, following the signing of the Pact of Biak-na-Bato, he was among those who sent off general Aguinaldo and company to their voluntary exile in Hongkong. At that moment, he was suddenly assailed by doubts about the future of the revolution.
In January 1898, accompanied by his old comrade Mariano Crisostomo, he met with Apolinario Mabini, who was then already debilitated by polio and in danger of being captured, to try to persuade him to leave Makati for Laguna and its hot springs. In February, on his way to Sta. Cruz to deliver a letter from Aguinaldo to General Rizal, he would have fallen into the hands
On May 22, together with Rizal, he attended a meeting of rebels in Biñan, where plans for an attack against the local government forces on the 31st were being finalized. On the day of reckoning itself, the rebels were able to capture to town
to lay siege on the enemy there, claiming victory on June 18, 1898. By this time, the revolutionary government in Kawit had already proclaimed Philippine independence. During the period following the fall of Manila, Colonel Guevarra served under General Lukban. He was assigned to post duty in Nueva Caceres soon after rebel victory was declared in his province, and the popular election records, with a check for P1, 500, were delivered to Malolos. He also served as special commissioner of Ambos Camarines’ finance department, his duty being mainly to inventory property left by the Spaniards, particularly in San Fernando, Pasacao, Bula, Calabanga, Libmanan, and Maguiring. References: Alvarez, Santiago . The Katipunan and the Revolution Memoirs of a General. Translated into English by Paula Carolina S.
Guevara y Mendoza, Antonino. History of One of the Initiators of the Filipino Revolution. Translated from the Spanish with some notes by O.D. Corpuz Manila: National Historical Institute, 1988. Ronquillo, Carlos. Paghihimagsik nang 1896-97. Isagani Medina, Patnugot Quezon City: University of the Philippines Press, 1996, p. 78.