The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-07-05
A Double.Barreled Cannon.


uusympathetic associations OF an old
iunkshop there has just been resur-
rected one of the most interesting rel
les of the Civil war. 1t is double
barrelled cannon-thc only one in the
world, and the disappearance OF which
after the close Of the war has always
been regretted by those who thought
the novel weapon worthy Of something
more substantial than oblivion. The
cannon is now to be mounted at one
of the most prominent points in this
city, so that any one coming to Ath-
ems will be able to view the relic. The
double-barrelled cannon was invented
BY Mr.. John Gilleland, and was cast
at the Athens foundry. It was the
pet weapon, the pride and hope OF an
organization composed entirely Of pa
triarchs, whose object in getting to-
gether was to defend the homes OF
Athens from the northern invader,
and who had such confidence in their
prowess that they gave themselves the
pretentious title of the Mitchell Thun-
der bolts.
The Mitchell Thunderbolts conceiv-
ed plan for wiping out the federal
troops by whole Companies and regl-
ments. The uble-barrelled cannon
was to do it. The idea Of the invcn-
tor was to load the double mouthed
cannon with two cannon balls, attach
ed together by.a long chain. Should
the enemy attack Athens, the cannon
was to be loaded, the two charges
touched off simultaneously, and the
twin shot, with its great length of
chain sent tearing into the ranks of
the hostile forces.
The effect, it was expected, would
be fearful. AS the two cannon balls
spread apart in their progress enemy
ward the chain would be drawn taut,
and by the time it reached the hostile
ranks the whrling thunderbolts would
be fifty feet long, catching in deadly
embrace every being that lay along its
front, and leaving in it's track a man
gled, dead and dying mass Of humani-
ty. At the end of the chain the solid
shot would knock down whole files,
and the great length Of the terrible
missile would demoralize all who tried
to stand up before it. Soldiers have
been said to dodge cannon ball, or
try to, in the instinct Of self-preserva-
tion; but who could get away from a
whirling devil, that cncompassed the
entire front of a company and few
hither, breaking limbs, smashing
heads, cutting men in two, and follow
ing up the fleeing ones, as though i'm
bued with fcndish powers of intelli-
gence.
It was calculated by the inventor
that the cannon balls at the end Of the
chain would be given rotary move
ment when fired from the gun, so that
the fifty foot death-dealer would trav-
ell in eccentric directions, twisting and
turning and doubling on its tracks, so
as to strike death and terror into the
hearts Of the soldiers, Of an entire
army. Gilleland believed that few
discharges from his double-barrelled
cannon would put to flight the finest
body of veterans that ever faced artil-
lery fire. Half dozen 50-foot chains,
with cannon balls attached, would
clear space several miles in extent,
and leave the Mitchell Thunderbolts
in undisputed possession of that part
Of the earth.
With their cannon ready, the old
soldiers of Athens felt perfectly able
to take care of their front and keep
Athens clear Of the enemy. But
there was never occasion for the use
Of the unique gun, and so the men of
the north were spared the awful ex-
pericnce of having to face this double
mouthed monster, and the world never
knew what an internal machine had
been set up to add to the horrors of
war. After time the doublc.barrel-
led gun disappeared, and for a long
time it was lost to sight. AS explain
ed it has just been found in junk
shop, and should any one desire to test
its powers of destruction, a permit from
the mayor of Athens would probably
be obtainablc. baltimore -ames2cdn.