Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn in Kings County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
12-Pounder “Napoleons”, Model of 1857 (Reproductions)
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), January 18, 2025
1. 12-Pounder “Napoleons”, Model of 1857 (Reproductions) Marker
Based upon a French design, the Model of 1857 “Napoleon” was a bronze gun capable of firing a 12 pound shot nearly one mile. Although few were produced prior to 1861, large numbers of the Napoleons were ultimately employed by both sides during the Civil War. An extremely accurate and reliable weapon, the Napoleon may represent the most successful Smoothbore gun ever designed. Standard ammunition was a mix of shot, shell, spherical case and canister rounds. The gun was capable of both direct and indirect fire, and when using canister it was extremely effective against infantry at close range. Between 1856 and 1864 the Union Army received 1.157 Napoleons, many of which continue to serve today as monuments on the nation’s battlefields.
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The upper half of this image, published by Harper’s Weekly in 1879, represents the “Artillery School for Militiamen at Fort Hamilton”. On October 20, 1879, the Brooklyn Eagle reported on the activities of National Guard artillery units at Fort Hamilton, noting that artillery drill “will begin this afternoon, and will be repeated throughout the week… and blank charge only will be used.” The gun line concerned would have stood approximately 100 yards to your left. (HDM)
Erected by The Harbor Defense Museum, New York City.
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Location. 40° 36.633′ N, 74° 1.913′ W. Marker is in Brooklyn, New York, in Kings County. It is in Fort Hamilton. It can be reached from Sterling Drive south of General Lee Avenue, on the right when traveling south. The marker is on the grounds of the Fort Hamilton Army Base. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 230 Sheridan Loop, Brooklyn NY 11252, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in New York City. It is also in the American Northeast. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, the Western Hemisphere, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: General Robert E. Lee (a few steps from this marker); 12-Inch Naval Gun, Mark V, Model 8 (a few steps from this marker); M1857 12 Pounder Napoleon (within shouting distance of this marker); 13-inch Seacoast Mortar, Pattern 1861 (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); On July 4, 1776 (about 400 feet away); Spanish 24-Pounder (about 500 feet away); Fort Hamilton Officers’ Club (about 500 feet away); June 1975 (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Brooklyn.
Also see . . .
1. Harbor Defense Museum at Fort Hamilton. Museum website homepage (Submitted on June 20, 2017.)
2. Canon obusier de 12. Wikipedia entry. (Submitted on April 14, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Additional keywords.
Photographed by Larry Gertner, June 20, 2017
2. 12-Pounder “Napoleons”, Model of 1857 (reproductions) Marker
This is a previous iteration of the marker which had faded.
Photographed by Larry Gertner, June 20, 2017
4. The Napoleons & marker
Credits. This page was last revised on January 22, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 20, 2017, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. This page has been viewed 1,076 times since then and 75 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on January 22, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 2. submitted on June 20, 2017, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 3. submitted on January 22, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 4. submitted on June 20, 2017, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
