Civil War Cannons

The era of the American Civil War coincided with the Industrial Revolution, which, for better or for worse, meant that weapons could be produced on a mass market scale, arming both the Union and Confederate troops with larger numbers of more sophisticated weapons than any war in U.S. History. Despite the fact that innovations in artillery – pistols with increased accuracy, cartridge ammunition, repeating rifles – meant that there was an awesome array of modern weaponry available, neither the United States or the Confederate States of America forsook the weapon that for years had been the backbone of armies all over the world – the cannon.

Although handguns and rifles were gaining prominence in the field of artillery by the time of the Civil War, the cannon had not yet fallen out of use, and wouldn’t, in fact, until the 20th century. Used extensively by both armies, the cannon is perhaps the most recognizable weapon employed during the Civil War.

Cannons used during the Civil War varied greatly in size, weight, and type of ammunition employed. Many different types of cannons were used by both the U.S. and the Confederacy, some manufactured in America, some in Europe. The designation of “12 pounder” or “32 pounder” that is given to cannons used during the Civil War refer to the weight of the ammunition used by these cannons.

The most popular types of cannons used during the Civil War were the gun and the howitzer. The differences in the two were many; while a gun is a long-barreled, heavy weapon made to fire at long range, using solid shot and a large powder charge, the smaller, lighter, shorter-barreled howitzer is intended to fire at a short range from higher elevations, using smaller powder charges.

The gun used most during the Civil War – both by the Union forces who equipped with it, and the Confederates who captured it and reused it – was the Napoleon, named for French Emperor Louis Napoleon. A 12-pounder, the relatively light, maneuverable Napoleon was also found to be very reliable.

The howitzer used most during the Civil War, again by both Union and Confederate forces, was the 12 pounder, although many other howitzers were produced for both armies; Union troops used bronze 12, 24, and 32-pounders, and iron 24-pounders, while Confederate troops used iron 12-pounders and bronze 24-pounders.

A memorable mortar cannon used by Union troops during the Civil War was known as “The Dictator.”
A13-inch seacoast mortar cannon, “The Dictator” weighed 17,000 pounds which necessitated its being mounted on a specially made railroad car. “The Dictator” could fire 200 pound shells at a distance of approximately 2 miles, and was used in the siege of Petersburg, Virginia in 1864.

Perhaps the most famous cannon used by the Confederacy during the Civil War was “Whistling Dick.” “Whistling Dick,”an iron 18-pounder siege and garrison weapon, was known for the whistling sound made by the gun when it was fired. Used in the river defense at Vicksburg in 1863, “Whistling Dick” is thought to have sunk the Union gunboat Cincinnati. Unfortunately, this historic and infamous weapon disappeared after Vicksburg was surrendered, and was never seen again.