The Dahlgren Boat Howitzers of Hanover, Massachusetts
Two 12-Pounder Dahlgren Boat Howitzers are displayed flanking a monument to the soldiers of Hanover, Massachusetts in the American Civil War.
Two United States Navy 12-Pounder Bronze Dahlgren Boat Howitzers are displayed in Hanover, Massachusetts on either side of a monument “Erected by the people of Hanover in grateful memory of her sons who died in the War for the Preservation of the Union - 1878”.
An article on the monument may be found on the Massachusetts Civil War Monument Project website here: https://macivilwarmonuments.com/2018/05/13/hanover/
The two boat howitzers seem to be mounted on original carriages which have had their wheels replaced at some point.
The Markings on the tubes indicate that the cannon are:
Registry Number 255 manufactured by Ames Manufacturing Company, Chicopee, Massachusetts in 1863. “J.A.D” - Inspected by John A. Dahlgren. Weight: 774 pounds. Preponderance: 75 pounds.
Registry Number 417 manufactured by Ames Manufacturing Company, Chicopee, Massachusetts in 1865. “J.A.D” - Inspected by John A. Dahlgren. Weight: 767 pounds. Preponderance: 74 pounds.
Note: “Preponderance” is the force with which the breech end of the cannon pushes down on the elevating mechanism when the cannon is mounted on its carriage.
According to the research of Wayne E. Stark, 12-Pounder Dahlgren Boat Howitzer Number 255 was carried aboard USS Aster during the American Civil War (The Big Guns, pg. 191).
The entry for USS Aster in the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships is as follows:
On 25 July 1864 at Philadelphia, the Union Navy purchased the wooden steamer Alice from Bishop, Son, and Company. Renamed Aster, this screw tug was placed in commission on 12 August 1864, Acting Master Samuel Hall in command.
On 25 August 1864, Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles ordered Aster to proceed to waters off Wilmington, N.C., for duty in the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron. Since the ship's logs do not seem to have survived, the details of her voyage south are unknown. She apparently joined the squadron sometime during the first fortnight of September, but, on the 16th of that month, was at Norfolk undergoing repairs.
She arrived off New Inlet on 7 October and began her blockading duties. About an hour before midnight, she sighted a vessel steaming toward New Inlet and gave chase. Just as she was about to cut off the blockade runner, which later proved to be the Halifax steamer Annie, Aster grounded on Carolina Shoals.
Hall and his crew made every effort to refloat Aster, but failed. He then transferred his crew to Berberry and then, aided by his officers, put the torch to the ship which then blew up.
A wonderful video displaying the use of Dahlgren Boat Howizters may be found posted by Youtube Channel Historic Forrest: 1850’s Dahlgren Boat Howitzer Firing and Barrel Shift Exercise
Two 12-Pounder Dahlgren Boat Howitzers are displayed flanking a monument to the soldiers of Hanover, Massachusetts in the American Civil War.
