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Post by Larry Koschkee on Jul 13, 2009 15:10:02 GMT -5
Out of the hills of southwest Wisconsin a cannon has emerged with a stated reputation of being on the steamboat Warrior at the time of Battle of Bad Axe.
I have an opportunity to view the cannon by appointment, but I am not an expert on cannon indentification. A picture of the cannon does not appear to be a six-pounder size that was installed on the Warrior at Prairie du Chien.
Anyone interested in viewing this cannon, please contact me.
Note:
I am in the process of tracking down a reputable artillery history individual last known to be in the Prairie du Chien area.
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Cliff Krainik
Member
MY HEROES HAVE ALWAYS LIFTED THE TOPKNOTS OF THE LONG KNIVES
Posts: 233
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Post by Cliff Krainik on Jul 13, 2009 17:30:47 GMT -5
Thanks for the great posting, Larry.
IF the cannon is from the Warrior it would be a superb historic discovery.
Are you trying to contact Bob Comardo?
I would love to inspect the cannon and learn more about its provenance. Can you arrange a viewing?
Cliff
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Post by Larry Koschkee on Jul 13, 2009 19:39:41 GMT -5
Yes,
I am trying to contact Bob Camardo...
Cliff, I would like to communicate with you briefly off the message board about this subject. I will send you a personal message using the function on this board.
regards,
Larry
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Post by majmchenry on Jul 13, 2009 22:59:00 GMT -5
Larry, I am very interested in viewing the cannon, and learning more about its origins. This is Gene Stevens gene9156@yahoo.com
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Post by majmchenry on Jul 13, 2009 23:10:33 GMT -5
Additionally, if this piece has any markings or numbers it should be identifiable, for example, there is a revwar period mortar at the Rock Island Arsenal that was there may years and on display "outside" and the curators there did some research on it, and hey found that the piece was n Washingtons Army. If this piece has seen army service, Rock Island arsenal may help as well, futhermore, if it does not fit the description from the official record, which seems to be clear on the type of gun that was used on the warrior, it probably isnt the gun.
& 30 Barrells of Pork, a six pounder with a sufficient quantity of fixed ammunition & 5000 rounds of Muskett Cartridges." "After the battle was all over, and the wounded attended to, the prisoners and the wounded of both parties, were put on board of the steamboat Warrior, and taken down to Prairie du Chien,
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Post by Larry Koschkee on Jul 14, 2009 17:17:29 GMT -5
Gene,
Thanks for your interest in this thread. I am approaching the investigation of this cannon carefully and the information and background I have gathered so far leads me to doubting the validity of this cannon as a Black Hawk War artifact.
I will let you know when the cannon will be available for viewing.
Larry
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Post by Larry Koschkee on Jul 15, 2009 11:15:01 GMT -5
Cliff,
Did you receive my e-mail regarding this thread?
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Cliff Krainik
Member
MY HEROES HAVE ALWAYS LIFTED THE TOPKNOTS OF THE LONG KNIVES
Posts: 233
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Post by Cliff Krainik on Jul 15, 2009 15:04:05 GMT -5
Larry,
I have not received an email from you.
Please try krainik@aol.com
Thanks,
Cliff
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Post by Larry Koschkee on Jul 28, 2009 11:05:52 GMT -5
The cannon may be viewed at the Grand Army of Republic (G.A.R) Hall, 102 Mary Street, Boscobel WI.
Hours are: 9:00 am to 430 pm, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. July 31st, August 1st and 2nd. The 17th annual Boscobel Muskets and Memories Civil War Reenactment is being held this same weekend. I have attended several times and it is a great event.
If you can not make it on these dates the hall will be open every Saturday during the month of August 1200 pm to 300 pm.
Anyone viewing the cannon, please post comments on this thread or send me an e-mail. koschkee@tds.net
Larry K
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Post by Larry Koschkee on Aug 4, 2009 19:53:13 GMT -5
At my request, on Friday, July 31st a few members of a Civil War reenactment group - 3rd Iowa Battery Light Artillery from Dubuque IA examined the cannon at the G.A.R. Hall in Boscobel WI. Saturday morning I examined the cannon and consulted with the 3rd Iowa Battery that afternoon. Mr. John Richard is the Captain of the group and the members deferred the last word on the cannon to him.
Mr. Richard's assessment of the cannon display as a Warrior Black Hawk War artifact was short and to the point.
Cannon is approximately 30" long with a bore diameter of 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 inches which would be quite a bit smaller than a "six pounder" cannon that was loaded on-board the Warrior. For comparison as "six pounder" had a 3.67 inch bore, weighs 884 pounds and is about 60 inches in length.
The design was unremarkable with standard or classic features of knob and neck with a muzzle swell. The trunnions location suggested a very old piece. The trunnions were just below the imaginary horizontal center line of the piece. Predominately, post 1812 cannons were manufactured with the trunnions centered with equal amount of metal above and below.
The cannon could be considered a anti-personnel weapon most likely mounted on a swivel or used for signaling purposes or firing salutes. As an anti-personnel weapon it could be loaded with 16 to 18 musket balls with a effective short range of less than 200 yards.
Mr. Richards went on to say the story behind the cannon and the lack of documentation is troublesome, therefore that leads him to believe the cannon is not a Warrior artifact.
I asked Mr. Richards what part of the story made him so skeptical.
He said the story indicates spare stores and this cannon were off-loaded from the boat so it could return to Fort Crawford and bring back supplies for the militia. The cannon was placed on a lookout post on the ridge. Why would you drag this cannon and munitions up a hill? For defense? The Indians were defeated and this cannon is effective at short range only so if you were protecting military personnel they would have to be near the sides of the cannon position or behind it.
A cannon piece was a valuable weapon and it is doubtful it would be misplaced or left behind. Defensively it would certainly be manned at all times.
The story stated that "cannon frequently failed (blow up) so spare castings were carried by boats. When needed, an armorer would clear and clean the bore and drill the touch hole, then the cannon would be mounted and placed in service." Mr. Richards disagreed with this statement. He said if spare cannons were carried on a boat they were complete manufacture.
Larry Koschkee
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Post by Larry Koschkee on Aug 5, 2009 15:52:30 GMT -5
  Here is the newspaper article that got me excited in the beginning. Larry Koschkee |
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Post by majmchenry on Aug 9, 2009 23:57:28 GMT -5
We need to add here that the historic record(s) make direct mention of the type of gun that was used at Bad Axe.This gun does not fit the description as given, and Whitneys has several references to this weapon the orginal cannon, this information is readily available.
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Post by Larry Koschkee on Aug 10, 2009 19:06:06 GMT -5
MajMcHenry...
One of the few requirements of participating on this message board was to sign your name. I know who MajMcHenry is but other viewers may not.
Larry Koschkee
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Post by Larry Koschkee on Aug 10, 2009 19:41:49 GMT -5
We need to add here that the historic record(s) make direct mention of the type of gun that was used at Bad Axe.This gun does not fit the description as given, and Whitneys has several references to this weapon the orginal cannon, this information is readily available. I agree that this gun does not pass muster with the historical accounts. but can we rule out a second cannon on board the Warrior. Part of the story of this cannon is built around the idea of a spare cannon. Lack of documentation, names and etc. with this particular cannon leads one to the only conclusion of no truth in the claim. While researching this cannon, I came across opposing statements regarding the number of cannons on board and whoever created the story of this cannon may have read the same accounts that I did. John H Fonda said: I assisted to get a six pounder from the Fort on to the Warrior, which cannon was managed by five other persons and myself, and was only cannon fired at the Indians - if not the only one on board. In addition, he said: The soldier we picked up, helped to man the gun. Clearly, Fonda is talking about a single gun here. Another individual stated the opposite. Charles Bracken: said: The day before they were overtaken by the army, they were encountered on the Mississippi River by the steam-boat Warrior, on board of which were a number of United States soldiers, under Lieutenant Kingsbury, with two pieces of artillery, these checked their retreat across the river until towards night...Here is an example of the fog of war...who is credible? Charles Bracken wrote his account in 1847. John Fonda's statement was first recorded in 1858. Charles Bracken was Henry Dodge's aide and adjutant to Dodge's regiment. John Fonda claimed he was a Michigan Territory militia under Dodge's command. Hmmmmmm... I researched the records of the Illinois and Michigan Territory militia and did not see him listed. Fonda claimed he received two land bounties. Hmmmmm... I researched Land Warranties and could not find records. Bracken was part of the ground forces... Fonda claims he was on the boat so would he not be the more crediable. So I think you get the idea... we just do not know with certainity how many cannon were on board. Battle Bluff and Battle Island remains fogged in. Larry Koschkee |
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Post by majmchenry on Aug 14, 2009 1:59:11 GMT -5
Sorry Larry, its me Gene..I re-registered on the board due to being unable gain access, Major McHenry is one and the same Maj. McHenry who served in the BHW. I live in Mchenry, which was named for him. And I also portray him.
Gene
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