page_title: Twelve-pound cannon
hierarchical_section_title: Twelve-pound cannon
caption_attribution_description: English: Grant from West Point to Appomattox, an 1885 engraving presumably intended to commemorate Grant's achievements after his death. A half-length portrait of Ulysses S. Grant is surrounded by nine scenes of his career from West Point graduation in 1843 to Lee's surrender in 1865. Clockwise from lower left: Graduated at West Point 1843 - Gen. Scott presenting diplomas In the tower at Chapultepec 1847 Drilling his Volunteers 1861 Fort Donelson 1862 The Battle of Shiloh 1862 The Siege of Vicksburg 1863 The Battle of Chattanooga 1863 Commander-in-Chief 1864 The Surrender of Gen. Lee 1865 Français&#160;: Ulysses S. Grant de West Point à Appomattox, Gravure de 1885, probablement hagiographique. Un portait en plan taille de Ulysses S. Grant est entouré de neuf vignettes retraçant sa carrière de sa remise de diplôme à West Point en 1843 à la capitulation de Lee en 1865. Dans le sens des aiguilles d'une montre depuis en bas, à gauche&#160;: Remise du diplôme par le Général Scott à West Point en 1843 Dans le chateau de Chapultepec en 1847 Instruisant ses volontaires en 1861 La bataille de Fort Donelson en 1862 Bataille de Shiloh en 1862 Le Siege de Vicksburg, en 1863 La bataille de Chattanooga 1863 Commandant en chef en 1864 Capitulation du Général Lee en 1865
context_page_description: The twelve-pound cannon is a cannon that fires twelve-pound projectiles from its barrel, as well as grapeshot, chain shot, 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-pounders were the 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-pounder was a favorite weapon of the Grande Armée. Later, redesigned 12-pounders were named after Napoleon III and found heavy use during the American Civil War.
  Twelve-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.
context_section_description: The twelve-pound cannon is a cannon that fires twelve-pound projectiles from its barrel, as well as grapeshot, chain shot, 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-pounders were the 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-pounder was a favorite weapon of the Grande Armée. Later, redesigned 12-pounders were named after Napoleon III and found heavy use during the American Civil War.
  Twelve-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 cannons, 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 bronze smoothbore Mountain Howitzer, a 53-inch short howitzer capable of being disassembled and carried by three 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.
  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.
caption: In the left of this picture U.S. Grant can be seen firing a mountain howitzer
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