Rowlesburg in Preston County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)
The 1841 Mountain Howitzer, thought to be the type used in Rowlesburg during the Civil War
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), October 27, 2023
A howitzer (as illustrated above by Peter W. Gaut) is a short-barreled, large-caliber cannon designed to throw shells at a higher trajectory than regular field guns. This makes them useful against enemy troops behind fortifications or concealed in rugged terrain. The mountain howitzer was a special gun, designed on such a small scale that the entire piece could be taken apart and carried on pack animals. Although its 4.62-inch bore could handle the same 12-pounder ammunition as regular 12-pounder gun, a complete mountain howitzer, including the carriage, wheels and barrel, weighed less than the barrel alone of a larger 12-pounder field gun.
Mountain howitzers generally fired spherical case shot, canister or grapeshot. All of these types of ammunition, which scattered small shot and shell fragments, were effective within the shortened range of the mountain howitzer. Case shot for mountain howitzers carried a load of 82 lead musket balls. The shell was exploded above enemy positions by a fuse. Case shot was usually fired at enemy positions several hundred yards away. Canister consisted of tin-plated iron cylinders loaded with round shot packed in sawdust. Most Civil War canister contained iron shot, but canister rounds for the mountain howitzer were crammed with a load of 148 .69-caliber lead musket balls. Fuses were not needed for canister. A round of canister burst when the cannon was fired, blasting its load of musket balls out of the muzzle as if fired from a tremendous sawed-off shotgun. Canister was used from distances of about 400 yards to point-blank range. The load of lead from a round of canister made a little mountain howitzer as deadly as any other cannon at close range.
Because mules were nearly always used to carry mountain howitzers by packsaddle, companies with these little guns were sometimes called "jackass batteries." If the terrain permitted, the mountain howitzer could be mounted on its carriage and drawn by means of a pair of shafts by one of the mules. A few units did away with the packsaddles altogether and used a pair of horses to draw the gun.
This article was excerpted from: Norris, David A. "Confederate Gunners Affectionately Called Their Hard Working Little Mountain Howitzers 'Bull Pups'." (America's Civil War, September 1995), 10, 12, 14, 16, 20, & 90
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical month for this entry is September 1995.
Location. 39° 20.879′ N, 79° 40.114′ W. Marker is in Rowlesburg, West Virginia, in Preston County. Marker is at the intersection of East Main Street and North Diamond Street, on the right when traveling west on East Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Rowlesburg WV 26425, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. "Battle of Rowlesburg" (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named Battle of Rowlesburg (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named Battle of Rowlesburg (here, next to this marker); Rowlesburg Area Honor Roll (within shouting distance of this marker); 34 South Church Street (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); 32 South Church Street (about 300 feet away); Rowlesburg Post Office Postmasters (about 400 feet away); Rowlesburg School (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Rowlesburg.
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), October 27, 2023
Credits. This page was last revised on October 28, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 4, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 2,604 times since then and 73 times this year. Last updated on May 27, 2022, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. Photos: 1. submitted on October 28, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 2. submitted on August 4, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 3. submitted on October 28, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 4, 5. submitted on August 4, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 6. submitted on May 27, 2022, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.