Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1920-06-18

known as Perry and Charlie, had done
the firing, and had returned to the Mel
cndy farm, ON the hill to the southwest
ward, for yoke of oxen and Il cart, with
the intention of taking the cannon up to
the farm for safe keeping. Meanwhile
they had placed it in the vestbulc of the
church, and locked the door. When they
returned with the oxen great was their
surprise to find that the old gun was
missing. Investigation showed that en-
trance to the church had been effected by
way of one of the cast windows, and
that the cannon had been carried to the
window and there dropped TO the ground,
where all traces of it were forever lost.
From the weight of the cannon and its
unwicldy nature il was supposed that
several were concerned in its removal,
but their secret was well kept, and no
one ever called for the promised reward
of s., which was long held in readiness
for anyone who would claim it.
While the history of the cannon cannot
be positively traced, it had been in town
many years, and is believed to have been
the identical piece of ordnance brought
by the Dummcrston contingent under
Ebcnczcr Haven and Isaac Miller, which
accompanied 300 other troops under Gen.
Samuel Fletcher in the invasion of Gull.
ford on Jan. 10, 1874. The fact that the
Dummcrston men brought a cannon with
them; that they had no horses; that Il
fierce snow storm prevailed at the time
and continued until the snow was four
feet deep on Il level before their return
might be reasonable ground for the sup
position that they abandoned their artil-
lcrv, which was described at that time as
being IAN ancient cannon and it cannot
be learned that anything of this descrip-
ton has been located in Dummcrston
since that time.
Where the Dummcrston men got their
cannon also is matter of conjecture.
There is possibility that it may have
been one of the guns mounted at Fort
Dummcr. which had for its defense one
great Cum" four patararocs and several
swivcls, all mounted, in addition to two
r-pounders. supplied in l745. History
is silent as to the final disposition of
these guns. (The foregoing is from the
History of Guilford, by John L. Gale, now
III prcparaton.)
Until June 10 the above had been all
that was known of the old Guilford can
non. ABOUT q CLOCK llldl III UT
noon the old relic was cXhumed by John
Il. Gale at the Gale homestead. Mr..
Gale had occasion to remove some earth
ut the south end of the granary and
,torchousc opposite the southcrly ell of
his residence, and about 20 feet from the
highway. The old cannon was found
Dnly about one foot below the surface
If the ground. 1t is hcXagonal at its
)asc, and for about onchalf its length, !
md round for the remainder of its length,
lbout three feet in all. The diameter at !
he base is eight inches. and at the muz
lie GI inches. The bore is PA inches. |
An iron ball of this size probably would |
weigh about four pounds. 1t is coniec
urcd that the cannon was taken from
he church as a joke upon Perry and
harlic," probably by John +. Gale (Sr.)
md his brother, Charles, possibly with
he help of the Pierce boys, Henry"
md Cord" who lived on a small place
ldjoinng the Gale farm.