While no Civil War engagements took place in Galena, other than all those generals, and, of course that Grant guy, the city does find itself owning two Civil War cannons, one of which was at the first battle at Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor, SC. The other is often called the workhorse of the artillery on both Union and Confederate sides.
THE NAPOLEON
Known technically as the 12-Pounder Field Gun, Model 1857. This particular one is a bronze, smoothbore cannon cast in 1862 at Miles Greenwood's "Eagle Foundry" in Cincinnati, Ohio. These cannons made up about 40% of the artillery used by both armies.
This cannon was presented to the city by the US War Department and arrived in April 1865, in time to be fired in celebration of the capture of Confederate President Jefferson Davis.
It was displayed at the Galena Fairgrounds until 1882 when it was moved to the soldiers monument lot on the west side of the river. When Grant Park was created in 1891, both the monument and cannon were moved there.
It was restored and remounted in 2000. At the time, the "profound impression" on the breech was allowed to stay on it. The general belief is that this was made by a direct hit of a solid projectile.
The article didn't mention whether this was a Union or Confederate gun, but since the other three cannons in the park are all captured ones, it might very well be Confederate.
GRANT PARK
I have been to Galena many times, but have never been to Grant Park. Next time through, I will have to go there, though, to see these two connections of the war as well as the cannon from the Spanish cruiser Vizcaya captured at the Battle of Santiago Bay during the Spanish-American War and the 1913 Krupp Howitzer (no, not coffee-maker) captured during World War I.
From the Spring-Summer 2009 Galenian pages 72-73. It also has pictures of all the guns.
Something I Didn't Know About. --Old B-R
The Battle of Fort Fisher, N.C.
