U.S. Model 1835 12 Pound Mountain Howitzer on Original
serial #88. This is an extremely rare piece of military history. This wonderful mountain howitzer is likely the only one of its kind, still on an original Watervliet arsenal marked prairie carriage. The muzzle face of the bronze tube is marked with the serial number "88" and the founder marking "A.M. Co." of Ames Manufacturing Company, as well as being dated "1863" and with the tube weight of "225" and U.S. inspectors marking "A.B.D." of Alexander Dyer U.S. Inspector at Ames for 1862 and 1863. The rim base is numbered "108". The condition of the tube is wonderful, showing an old polish, which is slowly re-patinating; showing overall minor dings from the years and light casting marks. The breech ring wears the iron mount for a Pendulum Hausse gunner's sight, the front sight is missing but these are easily made. The bore is excellent and shows a few very old oxidation pits but is mostly smooth. Interestingly, there is an appropriate size projectile in the tube, nearly all the way at the breech, it's fuse hole is empty and is therfore merely an empty ball someone thought they'd "see if it fits" some many years ago. The prairie carriage shows an excellent re-paint in olive drab and black, the original iron hardware showing sparse minor pitting. The iron reinforces on the cheeks show "U.S./Watervliet/Arsenal" on the right and "No. 55/1853" on left. The copper-covered ammunition/accoutrement boxes left and right rate excellent, their bodies correctly painted black but the lid showing a nicely patinated copper covering with black-painted rivets. The carriage is a first model, is solid, with only minor drying cracks from age. The ammunition chest and limber show the same nice quality olive drab and black paint, and ratesexcellent overall; with the minor dings, chips and usage marks one would expect from the years of use afield. The limber appears original and correct in every respect with the exception of the limber pole which seems to be an original replacement which was not repainted. Included is a fairly rare two-man limber pole with crossbar, used when men-not horses-are used to move the limber about. Two sponge/rammers and a worm are included, they are contemporary and not antique; the iron pivot piece for the hand spike is a later replacement. This extremely rare piece of artillery was recovered from Bannermans Island in the 1950s by Mr. Val Forgett when he was contracted by the State of New York to clean up the unexploded ordnance on Bannerman's Island. Dimensions: The length of the cannon tube itself is 37", with an overall length of 80". The wheels are 45 1/2" tall, with a maximum width of 54" axle tip to axle tip. The overall length of the limber is 119". When limber and carriage are assembled for transport, their impressive overall length is very nearly 17 feet. At an elevation of just 5° using a half pound charge of powder, these diminutive artillery pieces could lob an explosive 9 pound projectile in excess of 900 yards. There were only about one third as many Ames-cast 12 pound mountain howitzers as those cast by Alger. This is an absolutely superb and extremely rare piece of Civil War artillery, likely the only one of its kind in existence. (2449-2) (80,000/100,000) |
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