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LOT 1171
Very Scarce Documented Civil War U.S. Ames
Model 1835 Bronze 12-Pounder Mountain
Howitzer with Carriage - Serial no. 5, 4.62 inch
cal., 31 inch round bbl., bronze finish. This Ames
Co. Model 1835 12-pounder bronze mountain
howitzer was manufactured in 1861 per the date
marking on the left trunnion, and is listed by its
registry number “5” as inspected by Ordnance
Officer George Thatcher Balch on August 16, 1861,
according to Appendix 15B page 296 of “Field
Artillery Weapons of the Civil War” by Hazlett,
Olmstead, and Parks. These Model 1835 mountain
howitzers were designed to be light and mobile
artillery. The Model 1835, and the similar but
heavier Model 1841 field howitzers, saw use in the
Mexican-American War, Civil War, and Indian Wars.
Four Model 1835 12-pounders are known to have
seen severe action at Chickamauga with Captain Eli
Lilly’s 18th Indiana Battery during the Civil War. It
has a 4.62 inch diameter (12-pound) smooth bore,
“G.T.B.” inspector initials of George Thatcher Balch and
registry number “5” marked on the face of the muzzle,
“1861” date on the left trunnion, “AMES CO./FOUNDRY/
CHICOPEE/MASS.” marked on the right trunnion, and
“222” weight on the rear surface above the cascabel.
The howitzer is fitted in a modern museum quality
Paulson Bros. wooden carriage. The tube measures
approximately 37 inches from muzzle to cascabel, with
a 31 inch inside bore length and overall measurements,
including the carriage, approximately 74 inches long by
41 inches wide by 38 inches tall. For relevant information
and contract deliveries of these Model 1835 12-pounder
mountain howitzers, reference pages 134-137 and
Appendix 15B on pages 296-297 of “Field Artillery
Weapons of the Civil War”. Includes two reproduction
“grape shot” rounds.