Information
provided to Dennis McCarthy, St. Lawrence River Historical Society on April 16,
2008 from Charles Trollope, Noted Independent Ordnance Expert,
Ref: Iron
Gun recovered in 1973 from the St. Lawrence River off Fort Haldimand, Carlton
Island, Cape Vincent, NY
The gun is
a 9Pdr of 9 Ft 6 Ins (guns are recorded to their nearest 6 Ins). It was cast
between 1731 and 1748. Probably in the period 1731 - 1734. 9pdrs for garrison service (usually
long guns) were sent out to New England, including Boston, in 1754. On 19th May
1757 Govenor Shirley took some guns, including 2 X 9drs, out of Boston for
service at Oswago and Crown Point. None of these guns were returned. More guns
were taken later by Abercromby but these would seem to have been the 18Pdrs of which
two burst in the defense of Fort William Henry.
Either at
Oswago of Fort William Henry your 9Pdr passed into French hands. At the end of
the war it was back in British hands at Oswegatchie and the rest of the guns
history you have.
Details on
the gun:- Without the trunnions, I cannot reduce the date range nor can I
identify the gun founder and where it was cast except to say that it was cast
in the Weald.
The figures
on the base ring are of interest. XXII is the battery number put on by the
French and the number 3268 is the gun weight in French pounds. The difference
between the British weight and the French is just 2 pounds. The hard work was
finding which French pound was being used! The British battery number is by the
cypher - the "6".
The
"BA" is a problem. It would not have been put on while the gun was in
British hands - against regulations! There is a 12 Pounder at Fort Erie with
the same "BA" but that gun is a civilian piece having a Crown and
"P" instead of a cypher. The 12Pdr was captured and returned to
British hands after the fall of Fort Niagara on the 18th October 1813. By then
the "BA" had been inscribed. There is no record of this gun's
previous history.
 |
| French weight in French pounds |
 |
| XXII is the battery numberput on by the French |
 |
| cypher & mark |
 |
| British weight |