Houston in Winston County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

M1841 Mountain Howitzer

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, August 8, 2021

1. M1841 Mountain Howitzer Marker

Inscription. This is the M1841 Mountain Howitzer. It was used by the United States Army during the mid-nineteenth century from 1837 to about 1870. The cannon saw service during the Mexican-American War, the American Indian Wars, and during the American Civil War. This model was primarily used in more rugged western theaters. This was due in part to the fact that the original carriage design allowed the piece to be broken down into three loads for pack animal transport with the tube carried on one animal, carriage on another, and ammunition on a third. The mountain howitzer was designed to be lightweight and highly portable, while still having plenty of power. It shot the same cannonball as the 1500 pound Napoleon and the 850 pound field howitzer cannons. It weigh in at only 275 pounds, and still effectively launched this 12 poound ball up to 900 yards, although most shots took place between 200-500 yards. Because of this and its ease of disassembly, it did not require roads for transportation making it very well suited to Indian fighting and mountain warfare.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: War, Mexican-American

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• War, US Civil • Wars, US Indian.

Location. 34° 8.472′ N, 87° 15.453′ W. Marker is in Houston, Alabama, in Winston County. It is at the intersection of County Road 63 and County Road 61, on the left when traveling south on County Road 63. Located at the Houston Historic Jail site. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4806 Co Rd 63, Houston AL 35572, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Alabama.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: The Jail at Houston / Houston-County Seat of Winston (a few steps from this marker); Richard Elliott Payne

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, August 8, 2021

2. M1841 Mountain Howitzer Marker

(a few steps from this marker); Willis Farris (a few steps from this marker); John Anthony Winston (a few steps from this marker); Brushy Creek (approx. 2.6 miles away); Former Site of Smith Schoolhouse (approx. 3.6 miles away); Early Post Office Site (approx. 4.3 miles away); Meek High School War Memorial (approx. 4.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Houston.

Also see . . . Houston Historical Society. (Submitted on October 1, 2021.)

Credits. This page was last revised on October 1, 2021. It was originally submitted on September 30, 2021, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. This page has been viewed 676 times since then and 38 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 30, 2021, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.