Artillery in Canada (5) Ontario: Niagara-on-the-Lake, Fort George

Niagara-on-the-Lake, Fort George

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Blomefield Cast Iron 24-pounder 50-cwt Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun, reproduction, weight 50-0-13 (5,613 lbs) above the vent, (1805) on left trunnion, (24P) on right trunnion, King George III cypher, broad arrow mark, mounted on an iron garrison carriage.  No. 1 guarding the front entrance to the Park grounds outside the fort.

Portrait of King George II, by John Shackleton.

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Blomefield Cast Iron 24-pounder 50-cwt Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun, reproduction, weight 50-0-2 (5,602 lbs) above the vent, (1804) on left trunnion, (24P) on right trunnion, King George III cypher, broad arrow mark, mounted on an iron garrison carriage.  No. 2 guarding the front entrance to the Park grounds outside the fort.

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Blomefield Cast Iron 9-pounder 28-cwt Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun, reproduction, weight 28-2-13 (3,2045 lbs) under the cascabel, (1804) on left trunnion, (9PR) on right trunnion, King George III cypher, broad arrow mark, mounted on an iron garrison carriage, weight 16-1-12.  This gun stands beside a mound of 9-pounder cannonballs.  No. 3, leading to the Ticket Booth for entrance to the fort from the Parking Lot.

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Bronze 6-pounder 6-cwt Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun, reproduction, weight 4-3-15 (547 lbs) on the breech ogee above the button, King George II cypher, broad arrow mark, TRIA JUNCTA IN UNO (three joined in one), L (Field Marshal John (Jean Louis) Ligonier, 1st Earl Ligonier, Master General of the Ordnance 1759-1763), cypher, W.  BOWEN, FECIT 1755 (cast into the base ring of the cannon, Fecit is Latin for “made by” and W. Bowen stands for William Bowen, an owner of a furnace in Cowden, County Kent, England).  This gun is mounted on a wood gun carriage with limber and stands in the centre field of the fort.

The numbers 4-3-15 represent the weight of the gun barrel given in hundredweights.  The first number is the amount of hundredweights, which equals 112 lbs. The second number given is the amount in quarter hundredweights, which is 28 lbs.  And the last number is just the simple pounds.  Breaking it down using the 4-3-15 marked on the cannon: 4 x 112 lbs. = 448 lbs, 3 x 28 lbs. = 84 lbs, + 15 lbs = 547 lbs., which is the weight of the gun barrel.

Lord Ligonier became the Commander in Chief of the British Army in 1757.  He stepped down from that position in 1759 to become the Master General of Ordnance.  This new position placed him in charge of all artillery, engineers, fortifications, transports, and hospitals in the British Army.  Surrounding the stamp in Latin is the motto for The Most Honorable Order of the Bath – Tria juncta in uno (“three joined in one”) – of which Lord Ligonier was a member. The three in one may reference the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland or the Holy Trinity.

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Blomefield Cast Iron 18-pounder Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun, reproduction, weight 39-0-16 (4,384 lbs) under the cascabel, (1807) on left trunnion, (18P) on right trunnion, King George III cypher, broad arrow mark, unmounted on  the ground in the centre field of the fort.

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Blomefield Cast Iron 12-pounder 34-cwt Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun, reproduction, weight 34-1-2 (3,838 lbs) under the cascabel, (1804) on the left trunnion, (12P) on the right trunnion, King George III cypher, broad arrow mark, mounted on a wood Naval gun carriage in the centre field of the fort.

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Blomefield Cast Iron 24-pounder 50-cwt Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun, weight corroded/not observed,  (Serial No. 70967, CARRON, 1807) Carron of Falkirk, Scotland, on the left trunnion, (24P) on the right trunnion, King George III cypher, broad arrow mark, unmounted, on wood blocks on the ground in the centre field of the fort.

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Blomefield Cast Iron 24-pounder 50-cwt Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun, reproduction, weight 50-1-14 (5,642 lbs) under the cascabel, (1807), on the left trunnion, (24P) on the right trunnion, King George III cypher, broad arrow mark, unmounted, on the ground in the centre field of the fort.

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Blomefield Cast Iron 24-pounder 50-cwt Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun, weight 51-1-0 (5,740 lbs) under the cascabel, (WCo), (Walker & Company of Rotherham, Yorkshire, England), on the left trunnion, (Serial No. 341) on right trunnion, King George III cypher, broad arrow mark, unmounted, on the ground in the centre field of the fort.

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Blomefield Cast Iron 18-pounder Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun, reproduction, weight 38-1-17 (4,302 lbs) under the cascabel, (1804) on the left trunnion, (18P) on right trunnion, King George III cypher, broad arrow mark, unmounted, on wood blocks resting in the Brock's Bastion on the Northeast side of the fort.

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Cast Iron 8-inch 9-cwt Smoothbore Muzzleloading Land Service Mortar, weight 7-3-0 (868 lbs), (Serial No. 87) on the trunnions, S. Bowling, broad arrow mark, mounted on an iron carriage, weight 22-0-0, (2,464 lbs), No. 2, to the North of the Flag Bastion.

(Author Photo)

Blomefield Cast Iron 9-pounder 28-cwt Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun, reproduction, weight 28-3-2 (3,222 lbs) under the cascabel, (1807) on left trunnion, (9PR) on the right trunnion, King George III cypher, broad arrow mark, mounted on a naval gun carriage, guarding the Centre Bastion.

(Author Photos)

Blomefield Cast Iron 12-pounder 34-cwt Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun, reproduction, weight 33-3-22 (3,780 lbs) under the cascabel, (1808) on the left trunnion, (12P) on right trunnion, King George III cypher, broad arrow mark, mounted on a wood naval gun carriage, guarding the Centre Bastion.

(Author Photos)

Blomefield Cast Iron 12-pounder 34-cwt Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun, reproduction, weight 34-1-1 (3,837 lbs) under the cascabel, (1806) on the left trunnion, (12P) on right trunnion, King George III cypher, broad arrow mark, mounted on a wood naval gun carriage, guarding the Centre Bastion.

(Author Photos)

Blomefield Cast Iron 12-pounder 34-cwt Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun, reproduction, weight 33-3-24 (3,804 lbs) under the cascabel, (1807) on the left trunnion, (12P) on right trunnion, King George III cypher, broad arrow mark, mounted on a wood naval gun carriage, guarding the Centre Bastion.

(Author Photos)

Blomefield Cast Iron 9-pounder 28-cwt Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun, reproduction, weight 28-2-8 (3,200 lbs) under the cascabel, (1804) on left trunnion, (9PR) on right trunnion, King George III cypher, broad arrow mark, mounted on a wood naval gun carriage, guarding the Centre Bastion.

(Author Photo)

Blomefield Cast Iron 12-pounder 34-cwt Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun, reproduction, no weight stamp, (1806) on left trunnion, (12P) on right trunnion, King George III cypher, broad arrow mark, mounted on a wood naval gun carriage, Centre Bastion.

(Author Photo)

Cast Iron 8-inch 9-cwt Smoothbore Muzzleloading Land Service Mortar, weight 7-3-0 (868 lbs), (Serial No. 87) on trunnions, S. Bowling, broad arrow mark, iron carriage weight 22-0-0, (2,464 lbs), No. 1, South of the Flag Bastion.

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Bronze 6-pounder 6-cwt Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun, reproduction, weight 5-0-18 (578 lbs) above the cascabel button, (Serial No. 11), 1755, King George II cypher, King George II cypher, broad arrow mark, TRIA JUNCTA IN UNO (three joined in one), L (Field Marshal John (Jean Louis) Ligonier, 1st Earl Ligonier, Master General of the Ordnance 1759-1763), cypher, W.  BOWEN, FECIT 1755 (cast into the base ring of the cannon, Fecit is Latin for “made by” and W. Bowen stands for William Bowen, an owner of a furnace in Cowden, County Kent, England).  This gun is mounted on a wheeled wood gun carriage, Gun Shed.

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Bronze 6-pounder 6-cwt Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun, reproduction, weight 5-0-26 (586 lbs) above the cascabel button, 1755, King George II cypher, King George II cypher, broad arrow mark, TRIA JUNCTA IN UNO (three joined in one), L (Field Marshal John (Jean Louis) Ligonier, 1st Earl Ligonier, Master General of the Ordnance 1759-1763), cypher, W.  BOWEN, FECIT 1755 (cast into the base ring of the cannon, Fecit is Latin for “made by” and W. Bowen stands for William Bowen, an owner of a furnace in Cowden, County Kent, England).  This gun is also mounted on a wheeled wood carriage, Gun Shed.

Wheeled wood Gun carriage.

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Armstrong 6-pounder 3-cwt Rifled Breech-loading Gun, weight 3-0-17 (353 lbs) above the Queen Victoria cypher, broad arrow mark, mounted on a wheeled wood gun carriage.

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Bronze 6-pounder 6-cwt Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun, reproduction, weight unknown, (Serial No. unknown), bronze, with a band around the breech marked "I. & P. VERBRUGGEN FECERUNT Ao J776" around the top.  It has a lead protective cap, mounted on a wheeled wood gun carriage, Artificer’s Shop.

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Bronze 1-pounder 2-cwt Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun, reproduction, weight 1-3-12 (208 lbs) above the cascabel, (Serial No. 14), bronze, with a band around the breech marked "I. & P. VERBRUGGEN FECERUNT Ao J776" around the top.  The gun is mounted on a wheeled wood gun carriage, Artificer’s Shop.

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Blomefield Cast Iron 12-pounder 34-cwt Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun, reproduction, weight 28-3-0 (3,220 lbs) under the cascabel, (1801) on left trunnion, (12P) on right trunnion, King George III cypher, broad arrow, unmounted, resting on wood blocks, Block House No. 2.

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Cast Iron possibly 1-pounder Smoothbore Muzzleloading Swivel Gun, no markings, No. 1 of 2, Artificer’s Shop.

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Cast Iron possibly 1-pounder Smoothbore Muzzleloading Swivel Gun, no markings, No. 2 of 2, Artificer’s Shop.

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Cast Iron possibly 1-pounder Smoothbore Muzzleloading Swivel Gun, weight 1-0-9 (121 lbs) below the vent, mounted on a boat, Blockhouse No. 2.

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Bronze Coehorn 5.5-inch Smoothbore Muzzleloading Mortar, reproduction, King George II cypher, broad arrow mark, mounted on a wood box with carrying handles, Artificer’s Shop.

This is a bronze Coehoorn mortar with a King George II cypher. Fortifications were vulnerable to vertical trajectory or plunging fire, and the concept of mortars was well understood, but large scale mortars were commonly used initially to provide close support for infantry assaults on fortified positions. Van Coehoorn demonstrated them in May 1701 to William III of England, and they were first used in action at the siege of Kaiserswerth in 1702.The original was light enough to be moved by as few as two men, although a four-man crew was more practical for rapid movement. It proved immediately popular. Fortifications of the period were primarily designed to resist horizontal fire, making the vertical trajectory and plunging fire of the Coehorn highly effective at short range. It used a powder-filled, time-fused shell, the range being adjusted by changing the size of the charge. The slow muzzle velocity meant the shell's high, arching flight could be easily observed from ground level but was not necessarily a problem since their original purpose was to provide cover rather than inflict casualties.  They were generally employed in siege warfare.

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Bronze Coehorn 5.5-inch Smoothbore Muzzleloading Mortar, reproduction, King George II cypher, broad arrow, mark mounted on a wood box with carrying handles, Blockhouse No. 2.

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Bronze Coehorn 12-pounder Smoothbore Muzzleloading Mortar, 4.65-inch bore, reproduction, King George II cypher, broad arrow mark, mounted on a wheeled wood carriage, Blockhouse No. 2.

Bronze 9-inch Smoothbore Muzzleloading Howitzer, reproduction, weight unknown, (Serial No. 3), 1750, R. Gilpin, Fecit,  King George II cypher, broad arrow mark, TRIA JUNCTA IN UNO (three joined in one), L (Field Marshal John (Jean Louis) Ligonier, 1st Earl Ligonier, Master General of the Ordnance 1759-1763), cypher, W.  BOWEN, FECIT 1755 (cast into the base ring of the cannon, Fecit is Latin for “made by” and W. Bowen stands for William Bowen, an owner of a furnace in Cowden, County Kent, England).   This howitzer is mounted on a wheeled wood gun carriage, Blockhouse No. 2.

Field Marshal John (Jean Louis) Ligonier, 1st Earl Ligonier, Master General of the Ordnance 1759-1763.

Bronze 9-inch Smoothbore Howitzer, reproduction, weight unknown, Gilpin 1760, King George II cypher, mounted on a wood gun carriage.  Block House No. 2.

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Bronze 4-pounder Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun, reproduction, no cypher, no weight stamp, mounted on a wheeled wood gun carriage.  Block House No. 2.

Cast Iron 3-pounder Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun, 6-feet long, ca. 1710.

Cast Iron 6-pounder Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun, 5-feet, 6-inches long, ca. 1710.

Cast Iron 9-pounder Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun with stainless steel sleeve, King George III cypher.  Inside Fort.

Cast Iron 9-pounder Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun, reproduction stamped 1807, King George III cypher, broad arrow mark, barrel plugged with iron ball.

Cast Iron 12-pounder Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun, weight 28-3-7 (3,227 lbs), 1802, King George III cypher, broad arrow mark, Naval pattern.

Cast Iron 18-pounder 10-cwt Smoothbore Muzzleloading Carronade with a Blomefield pattern breeching ring, weight 7-3-18 (886 lbs), no cypher.  Block House.

Cast Iron 18-pounder 10-cwt Smoothbore Muzzleloading Carronade with a Blomefield pattern breeching ring, weight 8-1--, (>924 lbs), no cypher.  Block House.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 2930742)

A soldier's wife helping to serve the guns at Fort Niagara during the War of 1812. During the early days of the war, it was involved in several exchanges of artillery fire against the British at Fort George on the other side of the river. The capture of Fort Niagara took place late in 1813, during the War of 1812 between the British and the Americans.

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