Historical Collection Highlights

This 6-Pounder Cannon was manufactured in France and was given to be used by the Continental Army during the American Revolution. This type of cannon is an example of a field gun used to tear holes in the enemy’s infantry ranks. These cannons would fire in a flat parabola directly at the target. This meant that earthworks and fortifications could provide some protection from its projectiles. However, on the field these weapons could dispense large amounts of damage on an enemy force. These cannons are also a good example of needing the correct equipment for a specific job. There were different ammunition types for different purposes. The two main types were solid shot and cannister shot. Solid shot was a solid ball of iron that would rip through an enemy’s rank and long ranges, while cannister shot was comprised of smaller projectiles in a casing that would scatter into enemy forces at close ranges causing massive damage over a wide area.

This cannon is another showcase of European opulence when forging weaponry. The cannon is decorated with the crest of King Louis XV with sunburst and fish handles. There are also several inscriptions on the tube: "L'Inhumaine" (French for “The Inhuman”, the name of the gun), "Ultima Ratio Regun" (Latin for "The Last Argument of Kings"), and "Nec Pluribus Impar" (Latin for "Not Unequal to Many").