US Army Mountain Howitzers, Pattern 1835
Plate showing a Mountain Howitzer from Mordecai, Alfred. Artillery for the United States Land Service, 1849.
At around 225 pounds, the US Army 12-Pounder Mountain Howitzer, Pattern 1835, light enough to be carried by a single pack animal or transferred by a small number of soldiers. Alfred Mordecai's drawing shows the powder chamber at the breech (common to howitzers of the time). It fired shell or case with a 1/2 pound propellant charge.
It was mounted on a low two-wheel carriage which was used when the ground would permit. When needed, it could be carried by a pack animal. The tube and carriage would be separated and each carried by a different animal.
During the Mexican War, the mountain howitzer was found useful. It could be carried up steep ascents, and it could be mounted on flat roofs during fighting in urban areas.
The Mountain Howitzer saw service with the Navy during the Mexican War. John Dahlgren subsequently developed a system of boat howitzers better suited to the needs of the US Navy.
See Benton, pp. 183-184. Hazlett et al. pp. 134-140.
US Army 12-Pounder Mountain Howitzer Number 170 at Petersburg National Battlefield
US Army 12-Pounder Mountain Howitzer Number 254 at Fort Sumter. See the post on The Bronze Smoothbores of Charleston.
