County of display: Rutherford County
Location of display: Park Rd., Stones River National Battlefield, behind the visitors center, Murfreesboro
Marker erected by: National Park Service
"The twelve-pound cannon is a cannon that fires twelve-pound projectiles from its barrel, as well as grapeshot, chainshot, shrapnel, and later shells and canister shot. It was first used during the Tudor period and was commonly used during the Napoleonic Wars, 1799-1815. At this time 12 lbers were largest caliber of long-barreled field pieces, and were used both at long range against fortifications and troop concentrations using round shot and against attacking infantry and cavalry using canister shot. As such the 12 lber was a favorite weapon of the Grande Armée. Later, redesigned 12 lbs were named after Napoleon III and found heavy use during the American Civil War.
"12-pounders were also carried on naval vessels of various sizes. Unlike their land based cousins, such weapons were considered light by naval standards. They formed the main armament of smaller frigates, and were used on the upper decks of larger vessels, where their relatively lighter weight would not be a problem. They were commonly found on the quarterdeck of British Ships of the line like HMS Victory though their main weapons were the larger 24 and 32 pound cannon, capable of shattering the hulls of enemy warships and killing the gun crews with a deadly shower of splinters.
"Another notable 12-pounder was the 4.62 caliber brass Mountain Howitzer, a 53in long cannon capable of being disassembled and carried by pack horses. It was introduced to the US military in 1837 and known as the M1841. During the Mexican War Lieutenant Ulysses S. Grant placed a howitzer in the belfry of a church and used it to shoot at Mexican forces defending Mexico City.
"The French canon-obusier model 1853 "Canon-obusier de campagne de 12 modèle 1853 Le Hangest". Bronze, founded in Strasbourg in 1853. Caliber: 121 mm. Length: 1.91 m. Weight: 626 kg (with carriage: 1200 kg). Metal ball or explosive shell 4.1 kg.
In 1853, France introduced the Canon-obusier de 12, a 12-pounder capable of using either shells, shot or canisters. Napoleon cannon remained in service during the Victorian period, seeing action in the American Civil War. By this time the Parrott rifle and newer, more powerful Columbiads like the Rodman gun were being introduced. These fired shells and shot that weighed between 10 and 300 pounds though the Napoleons remained the most common field guns in Confederate hands.
Later 12 pound cannons included the breechloading RBL 12 pounder 8 cwt Armstrong gun introduced in 1859, Joseph Whitworth's field guns and the boat howitzers invented by John A. Dahlgren and used by the Federal navy during the Civil War" ~ Wikipedia
"In a desperate attempt to reinforce his right and center and stem the Confederate onslaught, Rosecrans rushed fresh troops from Maj. Gen. Thomas Crittenden's left wing into position along the Nashville Pike and the Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad. Told by "Old Rosy" to "contest every inch of ground," the Union infantry and artillery beat back one Confederate attack after another, inflicting very heavy casualties. Some of the hardest fighting took place in the area known as the Round Forest, near the present-day Hazen Monument. At times, the noise was so intense that soldiers paused to stuff their ears with cotton.
"Bragg tried to revive his faltering offensive by sending Maj. Gen. John C. Breckinridge's brigades, which so far had taken no part in the fighting, against the Union center. Had Breckinridge executed his orders at the battle's critical point (just before noon) the weight of his blow might have crumpled the Union line along the pike and railroad. But his troops arrived too late and in such piecemeal fashion that several Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois regiments, after expending their ammunition, were able to beat off the attacks with rifle butts and bayonets.
"That night, after the day's battle sputtered to a close, no one celebrated New Year's Eve. The two armies remained in position the next day, but there was little fighting." ~ American Civil War