American Civil War, Soldier Guarding Weapons Depot, 1865


Entitled: "City Point, Virginia. Negro soldier guarding 12-pounder Napoleon." The history of African-Americans in the American Civil War is marked by 186,097 (7,122 officers, 178,975 enlisted/soldiers and sailors). African-Americans comprising 163 units served in the Union Army during the Civil War. Later in the War many regiments were recruited and organized as the "United States Colored Troops" which reinforced the Northern side substantially in the last two years. The 12-pounder Napoleon was a type of canon-obusier developed by France in 1853. Its performance and versatility allowed it to replace all the previous field guns. It was the primary cannon used in the American Civil War. Over 1,100 such Napoleons were manufactured by the North, and 600 by the South. At Gettysburg, 142 out of 360 Federal guns were Napoleons. The 12-pounder Napoleon was widely admired because of its safety, reliability, and killing power, especially at close range. It was the last cast bronze gun used by an American army. No photographer credited, 1865.


Size: 3994px × 2524px
Photo credit: © Photo Researchers / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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