This is an extremely rare example of a Civil War era Wiard rifled Dahlgren 12-pounder boat howitzer. While some Dahlgren howitzers were originally made smoothbore for use with firing shell, shrapnel and canister, this example is a rifled variant for use with firing shot and shell, and differs from the standard Dahlgren howitzers in that the Wiard manufactured examples are made out of semi-steel, a low-carbon alloy. The period carriage is stamped "FROM NORMAN WIARD" on the side, and is mounted with two modern made wooden ammunition crates with stencil painted letters "US/(navy anchor)/12 pdr./WIARD" on the lids. Very few of these are in private hands today, and they hardly ever come up for sale. Surviving examples reside at historic sites, battlefields, and museums. They were designed by Lt. John A. Dahlgren of the U.S. Navy following the Mexican-American War after investigating the potential use of the Army's field howitzers by the Navy for mastheads, launches, and Marine landing parties. Previously a mix of weapons were used which were logistically an issue. These were used with a few versions of carriages designed by Dahlgren. The guns were formidable and period reports claim an experienced crew could get off 10 shots in a minute. Another example of a Wiard rifled Dahlgren boat howitzer can be seen on page 145 of "Field Artillery Weapons of the Civil War" by Hazlett, Olmstead and Parks. The howitzer has no visible markings on the tube, a 12-groove rifled bore with a 3 1/2 inch diameter, and the tube measures approximately 64 inches in overall length from muzzle to tip of the cascabel.