The Revolutionary & Civil War Howitzers.

I normally don’t do history pages as this is a surname site however from time to time I like to add a history page. This information will be on the Howitzer cannon . There are people that are interested in this gun. I think this page may be of some help.

In 1776, Congress ordered 40 howitzers, but those in the know were undecided on what size would be needed and how many they would need. They ordered 5 and 6 inch shots to drop on soldiers and 8 and 10 inch for firing point blank at ships, but were undecided on the distance they would have to be, to put a shell through the side of a ship. It was decided to make the howitzers as the same as those commonly used in England. The ideal howitzer was made out of brass as iron was to heavy. But brass was in short supply a lot of the times and when it could be found the cost was high.

Part of a letter written to the President of Congress by J. Laurens.

Paris, April 24, 1781.

I found great difficulties and delays likely to attend the plan of casting howitzers of English calibre in France. The scarcity of materials, the great danger of a want of precision in the proportions, and the facility with which we cast shells in America, induced me to substitute six-inch howitzers of French calibre to those demanded by the board of war. This size, in the opinion of the most experienced artillerists, is preferable to the larger, their effects being the same, and their inferior size rendering them much more manageable as well as less expensive of ammunition. A certain number of shells will accompany the howitzers, but it will be necessary that the board of war should give immediate orders for making a larger provision of them. Their dimensions may be taken from those with the French artillery under General Rochambeau.

The same reasons as those above mentioned determined me to substitute the French twelve-inch mortar to the thirteen-inch of English calibre, as there was no other way of procuring them but the having them cast, and the same observation is to be made with respect to their shells as with respect to those of the howitzers. A store-ship, freighted by government, is to proceed under convoy of the frigate on board which I sail, and will be charged with such supplies as can be collected in time at Brest.

1864.

Taken at battle of Chickamauga, Ga.

1. 12-pounder bronze howitzer, with carriage and limber, made at Alleghany Arsenal
1858.

2. 12-pounder howitzer, with carriage and limber, Saint Louis, Mo., Marshall & Co., 1862.

3. 12-pounder bronze howitzer and carriage, Numbers 92, Greenwood, Cincinnati, Ohio

4. 12-pounder bronze howitzer, with carriage, damaged, A. B. R. & Bro.,
Vicksburg, Miss.

5. 12-pounder bronze mountain howitzer, with carriage and limber, Numbers 197, C. A. & Co.

6. 12-pounder bronze mountain howitzer, with carriage and limber, J. R. A. & Co., 1862.

7. 24-pounder bronze howitzer, with carriage and limber, Numbers 44, 674 pounds, 1859.

8. 24-pounder howitzer, with carriage and limber, Numbers 11, 660 pounds, 1857.

9. 12-pounder iron howitzer, with carriage and limber, J. R. & Co., 1861.

10. 12-pounder bronze howitzer and carriage, J. Clark, New Orleans.

11. 12-pounder bronze howitzer and carriage, Numbers 186, C. A. & Co., Boston

12. 12-pounder bronze howitzer and carriage, Numbers 16, Marshall & Co., Saint Louis.

13. 12-pounder bronze mountain howitzer, with carriage, C. A. & Co., Numbers 201, 1862.

14. 12-pounder mountain howitzer, with carriage and limber, Numbers 204 C. A. & Co., 1862.

15. 12-pounder mountain howitzer, with carriage and limber, Numbers 63, C. A. & Co., 1850.

16. 12-pounder iron howitzer, with carriage, J. R. & Co., 1861.

17. 12-pounder iron howitzer, with carriage, J. R. & Co., 1862.

18. 6-pounder bronze howitzer, with carriage, Numbers 195, C. A. & Co., Boston.

19. 12-pounder bronze howitzer, with carriage, Numbers 86, M. P. Ames.

20. 12-pounder mountain howitzer, with carriage and limber, Numbers 1555,222 pounds, J. R. A. & Co., 1862.

21. 12-pounder mountain howitzer, with carriage and limber, Numbers 29, C. A. & Co., Boston, 1846.

A BILL.
DECEMBER l, 1872.
For payment to the heirs of William M. Ellis for the use and purchase by the Government of his invention in lathe for boring and planning howitzers.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the sum of twenty thousand dollars be, and hereby is appropriated, from any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, as payment in full to the heirs of William M. Ellis for the past and future use: forever, by the Government, of his invention in a lathe for boring and planning howitzers.

Confederate States, 1862 or 63?

1. Battery Lawton, Savannah River, one 12-pounder mountain howitzer, bronze.
2. Fort Jackson, Savannah River, one 12-pounder mountain howitzer, bronze.
3. Fort Bartow, Carston's Bluff, one 24-pounder howitzer; field, iron; two 6-pounder howitzers, field, iron.
4. Genesis Point, Fort McAllister, one 12-pounder mountain howitzer, bronze.
5. City Lines, Lunette Numbers 1., one 24-pounder flank casemate howitzer.
6. Lunette, Numbers 2., One 18-pounder siege howitzer (removed for siege train).
7. Lunette, Numbers 4.- One 8-inch howitzer siege (removed for siege train).
8. Lunette, Numbers 5.- One 8-inch howitzer, siege (removed); one 24-pounder howitzer, flank casemate.
9. Lunette, Numbers 15.- One 24-pounder sea-coast howitzer, siege.
10. Lunette, Numbers 16.- One 24-pounder howitzer, flank casemate, carriage.
11. Fort Mercer, one 24-pounder sea-coast howitzer; one 12-pounder howitzer, iron, field; two 24-pounder mortar howitzers, field, iron.

Cremaillere line.

1. Salient Numbers 3.- One 24-pounder howitzer flank, casemate.
2. Fort Brown, two 12-pounder howitzers, iron, field.
3. Fort Boggs, one 24-pounder howitzer, field, iron; two 12-pounder howitzers, field, iron.

First Lieutenant Artillery and Ordnance Officer.
SAVANNAH DEPOT, March 19, 1863.

The foregoing is a list of all the ordnance in position in this military district, but does not include the seven light batteries nor the guns in store.

1. One 24-pounder iron howitzer, from Richmond.
2. Two 24-pounder iron howitzers, from Charleston.
3. One 8-inch siege howitzer, from Richmond.
4. Two 8-inch siege howitzers, from Macon.
The above is a list of the guns received here since the 1st June, 1862.

The defenses of the coast of Maine, 1861, these howitzers have been in placed since 1858.

1. Portsmouth Harbor. - Fort McClary, Kittery, Maine, four 12-pounder block-house howitzers.
2. Portland Harbor. Fort Preble, two 12-pounder howitzers, field,
3. Fort Scammel, fourteen 8-inch sea-coast howitzers, 12-pounder block-house howitzers, one 12-pounder howitzer, field.
4. Narrows of the Penobscot. - Fort Knox, two 8-inch sea-coast howitzers.

Report of 1864.

Note. I will only give the numbers of the howitzers.

1. Fort C. F. Smith, Major W. A. McKay commanding-Garrison, four companies Second New York Heavy Artillery, 1 major, 15 commissioned officers, 1 ordnance-sergeant, 548 men. Armament, three 12-pounder field howitzers, one 8-inch sea-coast howitzer. Ammunition, full supplied and well packed. Drill in artillery, very ordinary; wants more improvement.

2. Fort Strong, Major Maguire commanding.- Garrison, three companies Second New York Heavy Artillery-1 major, 10 commissioned officers, 1 ordnance-sergeant, 410 men. Armament, one 24-pounder field howitzer, two 24-pounder howitzers, Drill in artillery indifferent; requires improving.

3. Fort Bennett, Major Maguire commanding.- Garrison, one company Second New York Heavy Artillery-2 commissioned officers, 1 ordnance-sergeant, 117 men. Armament, two 8-inch sea-coast howitzers. Drill in artillery, fair.

4. Fort Corcoran, Lieutenant Colonel J. Palmer commanding.-Garrison, three companies Second New York Heavy Artillery-1 lieutenant-colonel, 8 commissioned officers, 396 men, 1 ordnance-sergeant. Armament, two 8-inch sea-coast howitzers Drill in artillery, very ordinary; wants more improvement.

5. Fort Woodbury, Major N. Shatswell commanding.- Garrison, two companies First Massachusetts Heavy Artillery-1 major, 10 commissioned officers, 1 ordnance-sergeant, 256 men. Armament, one 24-pounder F. D. howitzer (smooth), Drill in artillery fair, approaching good.

6. Fort Cass, Major N. Shatswell commanding.-Garrison, two companies, First Massachusetts Heavy Artillery-8 commissioned officers, 1 ordnance-sergeant, 220 men. Armament, one 24-pounder F. D. howitzer (smooth), Drill in artillery fair.

7. Fort Whipple, Major Rolfe commanding.-Garrison, three companies First Massachusetts Heavy Artillery-1 major, 13 commissioned officers, 1 ordnance-sergeant, 414 men. Armament, four 12-pounder field howitzers, (smooth) Drill in artillery, fair.

8. Fort Tillinghast, Major Rolfe commanding.-Garrison, two companies First Massachusetts Heavy Artillery-7 commissioned officers, 1 ordnance-sergeant, 220 men. Armament, one 24-pounder field howitzer (smooth), one 24-pounder F. D. howitzer, Drill in artillery, fair.

9. Fort Craig, Major Holt commanding.-Garrison two companies First Massachusetts Heavy Artillery-15 commissioned officers, 1 ordnance-sergeant, 280 men. Armament, one 24-pounder field howitzer, Drill in artillery, fair.
10. Fort Albany, Captain Rhodes commanding.- Garrison, one company First Massachusetts Volunteers-5 commissioned officers, 1 ordnance-sergeant, 145 men. Armament, two 24-pounder field howitzers Drill in artillery, fair.

11. Fort Scott, Major Trumbull commanding.- Garrison, one company First Connecticut Heavy Artillery-4 commissioned officers, 1 ordnance-sergeant, 137 men. Armament, two 12-pounder mountain howitzers, Drill in artillery, fair. Drill in infantry, fair.

12. Fort Richardson, Major Trumbull commanding. - Garrison, three companies First Connecticut Heavy Artillery - 1 major, 12 commissioned officers, 1 ordnance-sergeant, 412 men. Armament, two 24-pounder field howitzers, Drill in artillery, fair.

13. Fort Weed, Major Campbell commanding.- Garrison, one company Tenth New York Heavy Artillery-5 commissioned officers, 1 ordnance-sergeant, 122 men. Armament, two 12-pounder field howitzers (smooth), Drill in artillery, ordinary; wants more improvement.

14. Fort Farnsworth, Major Campbell commanding. - Garrison, one company Tenth New York Heavy Artillery-3 commissioned officers, 1 ordnance-sergeant 128 men. Armament, two 12-pounder field howitzers (smooth), Drill in artillery ordinary; needs improving.

15. Fort O' Rorke, Captain Armstrong commanding. - Garrison, two companies Tenth New York Heavy Artillery- 6 commissioned officers, 1 ordnance-sergeant, 242 men. Armament, two 12-pounder field howitzers (smooth), two 8-inch sea-coast howitzers, Drill in artillery, ordinary.

16. Fort Willard, Major Abell commanding. - Garrison, three companies Tenth New York Heavy Artillery - 11 commissioned officers, 1 ordnance-sergeant, 358 men. Armament, two 12-pounder field howitzers, Drill in artillery, ordinary; needs improving.

17. Fort Ellsworth, Major Rice commanding.- Garrison four companies Second Connecticut Heavy Artillery- 1 major, 18 commissioned officers, 1 ordnance-sergeant, 522 men. Armament, nine 8-inch sea-coast howitzers (smooth), Drill in artillery, fair.

18. Fort Williams, Major Ells commanding. - Garrison, two companies Second Connecticut Heavy Artillery- 1 major, 18 commissioned officers, 1 ordnance-sergeant, 562 men. Armament, two 24-pounder field howitzers (smooth), one 8-inch sea-coast howitzer, Drill in artillery, fair. Drill in infantry, fair.

19. Fort Garesche, Lieutenant Logan commanding. - Garrison, one company First Connecticut Heavy Artillery - 4 commissioned officers, 1 ordnance-sergeant, 144 men. Armament, two 32-pounder field howitzers (smooth), two 8-inch sea-coast howitzers, Drill in artillery, fair.

20. Fort Reyonolds, Major Hemingway commanding. - Garrison one company First Connecticut Heavy Artillery - 3 commissioned officers, 1 ordnance-sergeant, 147 men. Armament, four 12-pounder field howitzers, Drill in artillery, fair.

21. Fort Barnard, Major Cook commanding. - Garrison, two companies First Connecticut Heavy Artillery-1 major, 1 ordnance-sergeant, 8-inch howitzers. Drill in artillery, fair.

22. Fort Ethan Allen, Colonel A. A. Gibson commanding. - Garrison, nine companies Second Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery- 1 colonel, 29 commissioned officers, 1,346 men, and 1 ordnance-sergeant. Armament, three 32-pounder bronze howitzers, two 8-inch sea-coast howitzers, Drill in artillery, ordinary; needs improving.

23. Fort Marcy, Major J. L. Anderson commanding. - Garrison three companies Second Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery-1 major, 8 commissioned officers, 1 ordnance-sergeant, 430 men. Armament, two 12-pounder mountain howitzers, Drill in artillery, ordinary; needs improving.

24. Fort Sumner Colonel Daniel Chaplin commanding. - Garrison, six companies First Maine Heavy Artillery- 1 colonel, 30 commissioned officers, 1 ordnance-sergeant, 868 men. Armament, three 8-inch siege howitzers, Drill in artillery, fair.

25. Fort Mansfield, Lieutenant Colonel Thomas H. Talbot commanding-Garrison, two companies (Third Battalion) First Maine Heavy Artillery-9 commissioned officers, 1 ordnance-sergeant, 281 men. Armament two 12-pounder howitzers, one 8-inch siege howitzer, Drill in artillery, fair.

26. Fort Simmons, Lieutenant Colonel Thomas H. Talbot commanding.-Garrison, two companies (Third Battalion) First Maine Heavy Artillery-1 lieutenant-colonel, 9 commissioned officers, 1 ordnance sergeant, 289 men. Armament, two 12-pounder field howitzers, one 8-inch siege howitzer, Drill in artillery, ordinary; needs improving.

Note. There is a lot of information out there and I will have to stop at some point and this is it, I hope this little bet of information will help those looking for information on these gun.