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Important Civil War Production Henry N. Hooper & Co. Produced Napoleon 12-Pounder Field Gun and Carriage
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LOT 216
Incredible Civil War 1863
Dated Henry N. Hooper &
Co. Napoleon 12-Pounder U.S.
Model 1857 Light Field Gun with
Field Carriage and Caisson - Serial no. 207,
Unknown. Though weighing over 1,200 pounds, the 12-pounder Napoleon field guns or “gun-howitzers” were considered light artillery and were the most widely used artillery pieces of the Civil War. Approximately 1,157 of these U.S. Model 1857s were manufactured in the North on Federal contract by six different makers during the war, and Henry N. Hooper & Co. manufactured 370 of them (see page 91 of “Field Artillery Weapons of the Civil War” by Hazlett). 36% of the Union artillery pieces at Gettysburg were Napoleons, and 130 Napoleons were used by the Union forces at Antietam. The Napoleon 12-pounders could fire solid shot or explosive shells nearly a mile (max range of 1,600+ yards) as well as shot for closer range engagements. They are also historically significant as the last cast bronze cannons used by the U.S. military. Post front sight and holder for a floating ladder rear sight, which is absent.
