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Post by Larry Koschkee on Jan 2, 2007 15:37:59 GMT -5
"Captain George W. Harrison, in command of Fort Hamilton, on the Peck-a-ton-eka, thirty miles from Galena, after vainly endeavoring to get a cannon, went to Colonel Hamilton's furnace and cast several lead pieces, intended for two-pounders, which were properly mounted at the stockade, and answered every purpose."
Source - The History of Jo Daviess County, Illinois, 1878, H. F. Kett & Co, Chicago, pg 292.
Is this plausible - home-made cannons?
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Post by Robert Braun on Jan 5, 2007 9:34:27 GMT -5
Larry, you are correct.
If memory serves, the forts at Galena, Blue Mounds, and Apple River had some form of cannon, along with Fort Hamilton.
Specifically, Apple River Fort cast it's own small cannon out of lead. Apparently the native activity around the fort died down, and the gun was loaded to commemorate the end of the BHW. The story goes that the gun burst, killing a man nearby. He became the first interment in what would become the Elizabeth Cemetery.
Bob.
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Post by Larry Koschkee on Jan 5, 2007 14:45:05 GMT -5
Interesting story, Bob.
How fortutious was it to have people on the frontier with the metallurgy knowledge and skill to manufacture a cannon on the spot? I would imagine a mold had to be formed from wood to be able to cast a piece?
Is it safe to assume the home-made cannons were crude without symmetry that can be produced in a foundry?
r
Larry
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Post by Robert Braun on Jan 8, 2007 8:53:50 GMT -5
Interesting story, Bob. How fortutious was it to have people on the frontier with the metallurgy knowledge and skill to manufacture a cannon on the spot? I would imagine a mold had to be formed from wood to be able to cast a piece? Is it safe to assume the home-made cannons were crude without symmetry that can be produced in a foundry? r Larry I think it would be rather accurate to say the "crude" was the order of the day when it came to these home-made fabrications. Lead is easily melted and worked. Would they have cast it in a wood form, or poured it in sheets and pounded the lead around a shaved log in order to achieve a kind of bore? It would have been a simple matter to drill a "touchhole." Best, Bob. |
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