Historical Notes

Tranter Percussion Revolver

This was the revolver carried by Arthur Rutland while in America. It was a double action, five shot cylinder revolver with a single trigger.
It was a 4th Model, 54 bore and made circa 1859. It was a well designed and reliable revolver that was highly regarded at the time.

The picture of the Tranter is shown with the kind permission of Michael Noble Firearms Ltd of Ashby-de-la-Zouch.

Napoleon 12 Pounder, muzzle loading cannon

This was the main Field Artillery work horse of the Union Army. It was a bronze casting with a smooth bore of about 4-5 inches. The tube was 66 inches long and weighed 1227 lbs.
It fired a range of projectiles - 12 lb solid round shot, shell with time fuse, case and canister.
With a powder charge of 2.5lbs, it could fire solid shot up to 1600 yards and was a very safe weapon with very few barrels bursting. Because of its smooth bore it was not an accurate piece at any great distance but for short range work, especially using canister against attacking infantry, it was without peer.
The picture above is of a Napoleon Cannon situated by the clump of trees on Cemetery Ridge at Gettysburg. This is the exact spot that Longstreet instructed General Pickett to aim his attack at, and from where Arthur watched the whole charge whilst sheltering behind the largest tree.

3 inch Rifle

This is the other work horse of the Union Army Field Artillery. The barrel was made of strips of wrought iron heated and wrapped around an iron core. With the core removed the ensuing tube was plugged at one end then rolled out to 7 feet and the bore reamed out to a 3 inch bore rifled barrel. The tube weighed only 816 lbs.
With a powder charge of only 1lb, it could fire a 9 pound shell up to 3000 yards, with great accuracy. The main projectiles were the Hotchkiss 8 lbs shell or the 9lbs case.
Firing canister was useless with this gun because the rifling upset the shot-gun effect. For short range work against charging infantry, a case shell with a very short time fuse was used.