I know we've been over this before, but since we in Australia only got to see Mythbusters episode 6 last week, I was wondering...
Can anyone actually name a concrete reference to wooden cannon being used in the pre-flintlock period?
After Mythbusters called me about 18 months back*** (they saw my website and figured I would know all about wooden cannon!) I did a little research. The only info on wooden cannon i could find was:
-the mythbusters example of the town of Paks in Hungary (also on the Darwin awards site)
-many references to "Quaker cannons" ie fake cannon made to fool enemy spies. One example was shown in the TV series, "Simplicimus Simplicissimus"(German,about the 30 years war) the hero constructs a fake wooden cannon to persuade an enemy town to surrender
-many references to "toy" canon used for 4th of July salutes etc.
-in the film "The Mission", Robert de Niro shows the Guarani indians how to make two wooden cannon.This is apparently based on fact
At the time (1753) when, in company with another Indian, one Jose, mayor of San Miguel, he headed the Indian revolt, he was a man of middle age, tall, taciturn and grave, and not ill-looking, though marked across the cheek with a disfiguring scar. At no time was he even a lay brother of the Jesuit Order, as by their rules in Paraguay no Indians were ever taken either as lay brothers or as priests. So little was the man feared by the authorities that, once the Indians' resistance was over, Nicolas went to the Spanish camp, was quietly heard, dismissed, and then continued in his office as the mayor of his native place. The legend sprang from a mistake in Guarani, to which perhaps a little malice gave its artful charm. In Guarani the word `Rubicha' signifies a chief, whereas `Nfurabicha' means king. The two, pronounced by one but ill acquainted with the language sound identical. Nothing was more likely than that the Indians should call their general their chief; had they thought really of settling upon a king, it is certain that they would have chosen one of the family of some well-known chief, and not an Indian merely appointed mayor by the Jesuits. But be that as it may, General Neenguiru, though he has left some interesting letters, which are preserved in the archives of Simancas, showed no capacity for generalship.** Throughout the course of the campaign he endeavoured to replace his want of skill by tricks and by intrigues, but of so futile a nature that they were frustrated and rendered useless at once. His first endeavour was to gain time, when he found himself with seventeen hundred men opposed to Andonaegui, Governor of Buenos Ayres, who had an army well equipped with guns, of about two thousand men. Neenguiru wrote to Andonaegui, telling him that the Indians were ready to submit, and then, whilst waiting for an answer, set about fortifying the position which he held. Warned by a spy, Andonaegui attacked at once, and drove the Indians from their trenches like a flock of sheep, taking their wooden cannon, lances, and banners, and killing thirteen hundred of them
- Kentucky in 1778
Kentucky's terrible year, 1778, opened with a severe disaster to the white settlers--when Boone with thirty men, while engaged in making salt at the "Lower Salt Spring," was captured in February by more than a hundred Indians, sent by Governor Hamilton of Detroit to drive the white settlers from "Kentucke." Boone remained in captivity until early summer, when, learning that his Indian captors were planning an attack in force upon the Transylvania Fort, he succeeded in effecting his escape. After a break-neck journey of one hundred and sixty miles, during which he ate but one meal, Boone finally arrived at the big fort on June 20th. The settlers were thus given ample time for preparation, as the long siege did not begin until September 7th. The fort was invested by a powerful force flying the English flag--four hundred and forty-four savages gaudy in the vermilion and ochre of their war-paint, and eleven Frenchmen, the whole being commanded by the French-Canadian, Captain Dagniaux de Quindre, and the great Indian Chief, Black-fish who had adopted Boone as a son. In the effort to gain his end de Quindre resorted to a dishonorable stratagem, by which he hoped to outwit the settlers and capture the fort with but slight loss. "They formed a scheme to deceive us," says Boone, "declaring it was their orders, from Governor Hamilton, to take us captives, and not to destroy us; but if nine of us would come out and treat with them, they would immediately withdraw their forces from our walls, and return home peacably." Transparent as the stratagem was, Boone incautiously agreed to a conference with the enemy; Callaway alone took the precaution to guard against Indian duplicity. After a long talk, the Indians proposed to Boone, Callaway, and the seven or eight pioneers who accompanied them that they shake hands in token of peace and friendship. As picturesquely described by Daniel Trabue:
"The Indians sayed two Indians must shake hands with one white man to make a Double or sure peace at this time the Indians had hold of the white men's hands and held them. Col. Calloway objected to this but the other Indians laid hold or tryed to lay hold of the other hand but Colonel Calloway was the first that jerked away from them but the Indians seized the men two Indians holt of one man or it was mostly the case and did their best to hold them but while the man and Indians was a scuffling the men from the Fort agreeable to Col. Calloway's order fired on them they had a dreadful skuffel but our men all got in the fort safe and the fire continued on both sides."
During the siege Callaway, the leader of the pioneers, made a wooden cannon wrapped with wagon tires, which on being fired at a group of Indians "made them scamper perdidiously." The secret effort of the Indians to tunnel a way underground into the fort, being discovered by the defenders, was frustrated by a countermine. Unable to outwit, outfight, or outmaneuver the resourceful Callaway, de Quindre finally withdrew on September 16th, closing the longest and severest attack that any of the fortified stations of Kentucky had ever been called upon to withstand.
-this reference from Italy in 1848
The insurrection at Palermo broke out on the 4th ult. It was announced to the people by a loud report of musketry. The police, well aware that in the church and in the stores of Gancia (a convent at the east end of the capital) men, ammunition,a and arms had been assembled, made an onset against the place, which they had previously encompassed all round. Canons were reared in that part of the marine plain which looks in a straight line toward the main door of the church. The doors were thrown down on the first discharge, and a storming party of troops and policemen advanced. They were received by volleys of musketry; but the defenders inside were but forty. A few of them fell dead; several others were wounded; some made their escape over the roof; others sought refuge in the sepulchral vaults; thirteen were taken, and these, laden with chains, were led to prison, followed by thirty of the monks, who were dragged along as prisoners. Arms, ammunition, and a wooden cannon with iron hoops were found in the church and store-rooms.
Obediah Gore in Connecticut, (1750's?):
"Pride of ancestry is inherent in the human race from earliest ages, as is evidenced in the Jews, boasting from their descent from Abraham, and from our aborigines in their war dances, singing the deeds of their fathers, and the members of the D.A.R. are proud to claim their descent from Revolutionay sires. Hence, I may be excused if I say, I am proud to claim descent from him whose portrait you have just unveiled. Judge Gore comes of English ancestry, and is of the fourth generation from John Gore and wife, Rhoda, who settled in Roxbury, Mass., now a part of the city of Boston, in 1635. His father, Obadiah Gore, moved to Connecticut, where our subject was born in the town of Norwich in 1744. He resided there and at Plainfield until after his marraige to Anna Avery. His mothwer was Hannah Park, sister of Thomas Park, who settled in Litchfield. He had five children: Avery, who married Lucy, daughter of Silas Gore; Anna married John Shephard; Hannah married Elisha Durkee; Wealth Ann married John Spalding, and Sally married Isaac Cash. He moved to Wyoming with his father, brothers and sisters in 1768. Several of the family were blacksmiths. He and his brother, Daniel, were the first to use anthracite coal for Blacksmith purposes, and it was their success that brought about the success of burning it in a grate in the old Fell house. He took up a farm where the village of Kingston now is and had a town-house in Wilkes-Barre, near the site of the Wyoming Valley hotel. He, with others, built a mill on a creek now known as Mill Creek, above Wilkes-Barre. Having settled under the Connecticut grant, he became actively engaged in the Pennamite war. He, with his brother, Daniel, built the wooden cannon which held the enemy in check, but it would not stand the pressure and soon exploded; but I will not give a history of that war, as it is familiar to students of history.
-Siege of Wheeling (Kentucky? 1777?)
the Indians fired their wooden cannon, within 15 yds of the fort, and it busted. At Muskingum, on their way out, the negro said, they made one wrapped with elk tugs, and made some noise, but this with chains that did not give. The next night there was some firing. Friday, about noon, they last were seen on Wheeling Island. The men then ran out of the fort and fired on them. Tate, an Irishman, seized the wooden cannon and shouldered it, hollowaing out, "Tell your master that you left an Irishman running off with your cannon." Col Williamson did not come until late in the day, marching with some 40 men. On Sat, Rice's Blockhouse was besieged by a part of this enemy. Sunday morning early, 40 men (including Burkam and Moses Shepherd) under Capt Ezekial De Witt, went from Lamb's fort, some 2 miles off, and followed the trail some distance. [He] don't think Rice went from Lamb's during Sunday night. End of Stephen Burkam's narrative
-Russo-japanese war 1904-5
Assault weapons used by the Japanese included crude hand grenades made from cartridge or shell cases filled with explosives and detonated by lighting a fuse. They also employed wooden mortars reinforced with bamboo lashings, which could be moved into a forward position by one man (these immediately recall the
Can anyone actually name a concrete reference to wooden cannon being used in the pre-flintlock period?
After Mythbusters called me about 18 months back*** (they saw my website and figured I would know all about wooden cannon!) I did a little research. The only info on wooden cannon i could find was:
-the mythbusters example of the town of Paks in Hungary (also on the Darwin awards site)
-many references to "Quaker cannons" ie fake cannon made to fool enemy spies. One example was shown in the TV series, "Simplicimus Simplicissimus"(German,about the 30 years war) the hero constructs a fake wooden cannon to persuade an enemy town to surrender
-many references to "toy" canon used for 4th of July salutes etc.
-in the film "The Mission", Robert de Niro shows the Guarani indians how to make two wooden cannon.This is apparently based on fact
At the time (1753) when, in company with another Indian, one Jose, mayor of San Miguel, he headed the Indian revolt, he was a man of middle age, tall, taciturn and grave, and not ill-looking, though marked across the cheek with a disfiguring scar. At no time was he even a lay brother of the Jesuit Order, as by their rules in Paraguay no Indians were ever taken either as lay brothers or as priests. So little was the man feared by the authorities that, once the Indians' resistance was over, Nicolas went to the Spanish camp, was quietly heard, dismissed, and then continued in his office as the mayor of his native place. The legend sprang from a mistake in Guarani, to which perhaps a little malice gave its artful charm. In Guarani the word `Rubicha' signifies a chief, whereas `Nfurabicha' means king. The two, pronounced by one but ill acquainted with the language sound identical. Nothing was more likely than that the Indians should call their general their chief; had they thought really of settling upon a king, it is certain that they would have chosen one of the family of some well-known chief, and not an Indian merely appointed mayor by the Jesuits. But be that as it may, General Neenguiru, though he has left some interesting letters, which are preserved in the archives of Simancas, showed no capacity for generalship.** Throughout the course of the campaign he endeavoured to replace his want of skill by tricks and by intrigues, but of so futile a nature that they were frustrated and rendered useless at once. His first endeavour was to gain time, when he found himself with seventeen hundred men opposed to Andonaegui, Governor of Buenos Ayres, who had an army well equipped with guns, of about two thousand men. Neenguiru wrote to Andonaegui, telling him that the Indians were ready to submit, and then, whilst waiting for an answer, set about fortifying the position which he held. Warned by a spy, Andonaegui attacked at once, and drove the Indians from their trenches like a flock of sheep, taking their wooden cannon, lances, and banners, and killing thirteen hundred of them
- Kentucky in 1778
Kentucky's terrible year, 1778, opened with a severe disaster to the white settlers--when Boone with thirty men, while engaged in making salt at the "Lower Salt Spring," was captured in February by more than a hundred Indians, sent by Governor Hamilton of Detroit to drive the white settlers from "Kentucke." Boone remained in captivity until early summer, when, learning that his Indian captors were planning an attack in force upon the Transylvania Fort, he succeeded in effecting his escape. After a break-neck journey of one hundred and sixty miles, during which he ate but one meal, Boone finally arrived at the big fort on June 20th. The settlers were thus given ample time for preparation, as the long siege did not begin until September 7th. The fort was invested by a powerful force flying the English flag--four hundred and forty-four savages gaudy in the vermilion and ochre of their war-paint, and eleven Frenchmen, the whole being commanded by the French-Canadian, Captain Dagniaux de Quindre, and the great Indian Chief, Black-fish who had adopted Boone as a son. In the effort to gain his end de Quindre resorted to a dishonorable stratagem, by which he hoped to outwit the settlers and capture the fort with but slight loss. "They formed a scheme to deceive us," says Boone, "declaring it was their orders, from Governor Hamilton, to take us captives, and not to destroy us; but if nine of us would come out and treat with them, they would immediately withdraw their forces from our walls, and return home peacably." Transparent as the stratagem was, Boone incautiously agreed to a conference with the enemy; Callaway alone took the precaution to guard against Indian duplicity. After a long talk, the Indians proposed to Boone, Callaway, and the seven or eight pioneers who accompanied them that they shake hands in token of peace and friendship. As picturesquely described by Daniel Trabue:
"The Indians sayed two Indians must shake hands with one white man to make a Double or sure peace at this time the Indians had hold of the white men's hands and held them. Col. Calloway objected to this but the other Indians laid hold or tryed to lay hold of the other hand but Colonel Calloway was the first that jerked away from them but the Indians seized the men two Indians holt of one man or it was mostly the case and did their best to hold them but while the man and Indians was a scuffling the men from the Fort agreeable to Col. Calloway's order fired on them they had a dreadful skuffel but our men all got in the fort safe and the fire continued on both sides."
During the siege Callaway, the leader of the pioneers, made a wooden cannon wrapped with wagon tires, which on being fired at a group of Indians "made them scamper perdidiously." The secret effort of the Indians to tunnel a way underground into the fort, being discovered by the defenders, was frustrated by a countermine. Unable to outwit, outfight, or outmaneuver the resourceful Callaway, de Quindre finally withdrew on September 16th, closing the longest and severest attack that any of the fortified stations of Kentucky had ever been called upon to withstand.
-this reference from Italy in 1848
The insurrection at Palermo broke out on the 4th ult. It was announced to the people by a loud report of musketry. The police, well aware that in the church and in the stores of Gancia (a convent at the east end of the capital) men, ammunition,a and arms had been assembled, made an onset against the place, which they had previously encompassed all round. Canons were reared in that part of the marine plain which looks in a straight line toward the main door of the church. The doors were thrown down on the first discharge, and a storming party of troops and policemen advanced. They were received by volleys of musketry; but the defenders inside were but forty. A few of them fell dead; several others were wounded; some made their escape over the roof; others sought refuge in the sepulchral vaults; thirteen were taken, and these, laden with chains, were led to prison, followed by thirty of the monks, who were dragged along as prisoners. Arms, ammunition, and a wooden cannon with iron hoops were found in the church and store-rooms.
Obediah Gore in Connecticut, (1750's?):
"Pride of ancestry is inherent in the human race from earliest ages, as is evidenced in the Jews, boasting from their descent from Abraham, and from our aborigines in their war dances, singing the deeds of their fathers, and the members of the D.A.R. are proud to claim their descent from Revolutionay sires. Hence, I may be excused if I say, I am proud to claim descent from him whose portrait you have just unveiled. Judge Gore comes of English ancestry, and is of the fourth generation from John Gore and wife, Rhoda, who settled in Roxbury, Mass., now a part of the city of Boston, in 1635. His father, Obadiah Gore, moved to Connecticut, where our subject was born in the town of Norwich in 1744. He resided there and at Plainfield until after his marraige to Anna Avery. His mothwer was Hannah Park, sister of Thomas Park, who settled in Litchfield. He had five children: Avery, who married Lucy, daughter of Silas Gore; Anna married John Shephard; Hannah married Elisha Durkee; Wealth Ann married John Spalding, and Sally married Isaac Cash. He moved to Wyoming with his father, brothers and sisters in 1768. Several of the family were blacksmiths. He and his brother, Daniel, were the first to use anthracite coal for Blacksmith purposes, and it was their success that brought about the success of burning it in a grate in the old Fell house. He took up a farm where the village of Kingston now is and had a town-house in Wilkes-Barre, near the site of the Wyoming Valley hotel. He, with others, built a mill on a creek now known as Mill Creek, above Wilkes-Barre. Having settled under the Connecticut grant, he became actively engaged in the Pennamite war. He, with his brother, Daniel, built the wooden cannon which held the enemy in check, but it would not stand the pressure and soon exploded; but I will not give a history of that war, as it is familiar to students of history.
-Siege of Wheeling (Kentucky? 1777?)
the Indians fired their wooden cannon, within 15 yds of the fort, and it busted. At Muskingum, on their way out, the negro said, they made one wrapped with elk tugs, and made some noise, but this with chains that did not give. The next night there was some firing. Friday, about noon, they last were seen on Wheeling Island. The men then ran out of the fort and fired on them. Tate, an Irishman, seized the wooden cannon and shouldered it, hollowaing out, "Tell your master that you left an Irishman running off with your cannon." Col Williamson did not come until late in the day, marching with some 40 men. On Sat, Rice's Blockhouse was besieged by a part of this enemy. Sunday morning early, 40 men (including Burkam and Moses Shepherd) under Capt Ezekial De Witt, went from Lamb's fort, some 2 miles off, and followed the trail some distance. [He] don't think Rice went from Lamb's during Sunday night. End of Stephen Burkam's narrative
-Russo-japanese war 1904-5
Assault weapons used by the Japanese included crude hand grenades made from cartridge or shell cases filled with explosives and detonated by lighting a fuse. They also employed wooden mortars reinforced with bamboo lashings, which could be moved into a forward position by one man (these immediately recall the
