About the Cannon

The light infantry 3-pounder, consisting of a barrel with an overall length of about 41 inches mounted on a wooden “butterfly” carriage, was a small cannon intended for support of infantry. It was easily transported over rough terrain and was essentially self-contained, designed with compartments for ammunition and equipment.

According to Adrian Caruana, an expert on early British artillery, it was, “The most handy and maneuverable piece of Ordnance in service with the Royal Regiment of Artillery at the time of the American Revolution.” It came into service between 1775 and 1778. Most of the surviving guns have been found in North America, and there is evidence that Colonel John Simcoe, commander of the Queen’s Rangers, had a light 3-pounder with him at Spencer’s Ordinary, just outside Williamsburg in 1781. The British surrendered a number at Yorktown.

It is a classic cannon in its appearance, and a great deal of written documentation survives. In 1783, Colonel William Congreve placed scale drawings of the barrel, “butterfly” carriage, limber, and accessories in the Royal Military Repository at Woolwich, England.

Glossary

Muzzle: The portion of a firearm’s barrel closest to its discharging end, sometimes delineated on the shaft with a decorative band called an astragal.

Muzzle moldings: Adornments to the muzzle, either engraved or raised.

Muzzle astragal and fillets: A ring encircling a gun’s barrel that divides the muzzle from the chase.

Chase: The bored, hollow center of a gun. The chase is between the muzzle and the trunnion.

Reinforce ring: Strengthened portions of the barrel made to withstand the stress of firing.

Ogee: An s-shaped molding.

Trunnion: Short, cylindrical posts mounted at a cannon’s center axis which allow the barrel to tilt when mounted.

Dolphins: A pair of handles cast into the center of a cannon’s barrel above the trunnion.

Vent: A small hole towards the rear of the barrel that allows access to the cartridge for ignition.

Vent field: An aperture at the cannon’s base where ignition of the charge takes place.

Base ring: A reinforced molding.

Cascable: The knob-shaped grip at the cannon’s end.

Button: The rounded tip of the cascable.