We have been admiring this old cannon just off I-57 at Arcola, Illinois for many years, but never took the time to exit and take a look, until today. When dedicated in 1906, there would have been Civil War veterans alive and in attendance.
It is an iron tube, evidenced by rust where the paint is broken. It is planted upside down on its pedestal, and that is a good idea, making it difficult for pranksters to load and fire it. It was made by Cyrus Alger & Co, Boston.
The government inspector's initials are J.W.R, probably James W. Reilly, who was an inspector from 1863 to 1888.
Someone knocked off the cascabel. There is a special place for such vandals. The serial number is 1510.
I measured my reach when we returned home, and it appears to be a 24 pounder, with a 5.82 inch bore, placing this gun in the siege gun category rather than field artillery.
1 comment:
If we have the chance we like to walk through these old and small cemeteries to see what stories the stones will tell us.
Neat cannon.
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