Niles in Berrien County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Parrott Civil War Cannon

Riverfront Park Historical Trail

Photographed by Duane Hall, August 17, 2013

1. Parrott Civil War Cannon Marker

Inscription. Nearly 12,000 memorial cannons were donated by the U.S. Government, between 1872 and 1916, to local Posts of the Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) and other civic and patriotic groups for the purpose of display as a veterans' war memorial. They were formally dedicated by surviving veterans, to serve as "silent-sentinels," in tribute to the memory of all who served and sacrificed during the American Civil War. We have the G.A.R. to thank for our national observance of Memorial Day, which they initiated on May 30, 1868. Since then, countless communities have traditionally held their tribute to veterans (of ALL eras), near their Civil War Monument. Therefore, these memorials are tied to a community's cultural heritage, as well as its historical heritage.

Unfortunately, less than half remain of all the cannons that were originally dedicated as veterans' memorials. It's estimated that only 5,467 of these cannons survived the "scrap-metal" drives of World Wars I and II. Therefore, the historical value of the cannon and the special significance of the memorial in Niles is multiplied.

Niles's cannon is a Model 1861 6.4-inch

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(100 pounder) Army Parrott Rifle. The gun was invented by Robert Parker Parrott, who graduated third in the West Point Class of 1820. It was cast at the West Point Foundry in New York on June 1, 1863 (foundry #717, Registration #128) and was inspected by Ordnance Officer Alfred Mordecai Jr. before being placed into service. The 100 pounder was used by the Army primarily as a siege and fortification weapon. It was also used aboard ships of the U.S. Navy during the Civil War. It could fire a 100 pound solid shot or long shell at ranged of about 6,900 yards at a 28 second time of flight. Of the 233 accepted by the Army between 1861 and 1865 only 53 remain as part of veterans' memorials across the country. The 9,747 lb. cannon in Niles is one of these 53. Marking on the muzzle and trunnions of the cannon represent the above information.

Frank Graves G.A.R. Post 64 in Niles petitioned the U.S. Ordnance Department and was granted donation of the cannon for their veterans' memorial. It arrived in Niles on May 13, 1897 from the Rock Island Arsenal in Illinois along with 20, 10 inch shells from the Allegheny Arsenal in Pennsylvania. Record

Close-up of Image on Parrott Civil War Cannon Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane Hall, August 17, 2013

2. Close-up of Image on Parrott Civil War Cannon Marker

Caption: Parrott Civil War Cannon arrived in Niles on May 13, 1897
(Photo source 1932 Niles High School Tattler)

of the donation appears in the 1899 Annual Report of the US War Department's Chief of Ordnance (Letter ID #20589). As the successor organization of the G.A.R., the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW) is proud to maintain their traditions.

A committee of Niles citizens received approval to establish a regiment rendezvous point and training camp at the Niles Civil War era village fairgrounds site, the approximate locations was between Superior, Michigan, 11th and 9th Streets to be named Camp Barker. The fair buildings were converted into barracks with additional barracks and buildings constructed by recruits. There were ten barracks, one for each company. The oval fair race track was used for drills, training and marching.

Recruitment for the Michigan 12th took place during the fall and winter of 1861-1862, consisting of 10 companies of 100 men each. The original companies comprised enlistees coming from individual towns. For company A–Cassopolis; B–St. Joseph; C–Buchanan; D–Albion; E,F and K–Niles; G–Lansing; H–Lawton; and I–Berrien Springs.

On March 18, 1862 after

Photographed by Duane Hall, August 17, 2013

3. Close-up of Image on Parrott Civil War Cannon Marker

Caption: Camp Barker model built by Bruce Leavitt as his Eagle Scout project in 1982.
Model is housed at Berrien County Historical, Berrien Springs, MI

rudimentary training was complete, the 12th Michigan marched across town to the Michigan Central Railroad station and set off by train for St. Louis, Missouri. After engaging in numerous battles the 12th was mustered out of service February 15, 1866 at Camden Arkansas.

Topics. This memorial is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is February 15, 1671.

Location. 41° 49.807′ N, 86° 15.584′ W. Memorial is in Niles, Michigan, in Berrien County. It can be reached from W. Main Street (State Highway 139) 0.1 miles west of Front Street, on the right when traveling west. Marker is located in Riverfront Park just north of the Main Street bridge. Touch for map. Memorial is in this post office area: Niles MI 49120, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this memorial is in Southwest Michigan

and specifically in one of the Lake Michigan Shore counties. It is also in the American Midwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Great Lakes,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New

Photographed by Duane Hall, August 17, 2013

4. Close-up of Image on Parrott Civil War Cannon Marker

Caption:
Marker sponsored in memory of
PVT. FRANCIS MARION ROOK
Union Army 20th Illinois Infantry Company B
June 13, 1861-July 16, 1865

France

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Niles Veterans Memorial (a few steps from this marker); John B. Reddick Building (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); PA-WA-TING (approx. 0.2 miles away); Wesley United Methodist Church (approx. 0.2 miles away); Four Flags Hotel (approx. ¼ mile away); Trinity Church (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Chapin House / Henry Austin Chapin (approx. 0.3 miles away); U.S.S. Maine Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Niles.

Close-up of Image<br>on Parrott Civil War Cannon Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane Hall, August 17, 2013

5. Close-up of Image
on Parrott Civil War Cannon Marker

Caption: Michigan 12th's motto "Michigan expects every man to do HIS duty".
Battle of Shiloh Painting by Darren Smith, Artist and Civil War historian

Parrott Civil War Cannon Marker<br>in Riverfront Park image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane Hall, August 17, 2013

6. Parrott Civil War Cannon Marker
in Riverfront Park

Model 1861 6.4-inch (100 pounder)<br>Army Parrott Rifle image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane Hall, August 17, 2013

7. Model 1861 6.4-inch (100 pounder)
Army Parrott Rifle

Muzzle of Parrott Rifle image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane Hall, August 17, 2013

8. Muzzle of Parrott Rifle

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on August 19, 2013, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas. This page has been viewed 1,616 times since then and 72 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. submitted on August 19, 2013, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas.