Hartshorn Memorial Cannon facts for kids
The Hartshorn Memorial Cannon is a special cannon from the American Civil War. It is now a memorial in Lyndeborough, New Hampshire, in a place called the South Lyndeborough Village Common. This cannon is named after John Alonzo Hartshorn. He was a soldier from Lyndeborough who died in the Civil War. He was also part of the town's Lafayette Artillery Company.
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What is the Hartshorn Cannon?
A Cannon from the Civil War
Before the year 1900, the Hartshorn Cannon was used by the Navy. It served during the Civil War at Fort Constitution in New Castle, New Hampshire. People believe it stayed there until the fort was changed in the late 1890s.
How Big is the Cannon?
This cannon is a black "thirty-pounder" Parrott rifle. It is about 102 inches (2.6 meters) long. It weighs a lot, about 3,495 pounds (1,585 kg). The cannon was made in 1862 at the West Point Foundry in New York. Today, it sits on a low base made of granite. This base was likely put there around 1902.
What Could the Cannon Do?
When the cannon was used, it could fire shells that weighed 29 pounds (13 kg). It used a small charge of 3.25 pounds (1.5 kg) of ammunition. These shells could fly a very long way, up to 6,700 yards (6,126 meters). It took about 27 seconds for a shell to reach its target. Usually, nine people were needed to operate this large gun.
Special Marks on the Cannon
You can tell it was a naval gun because it has an anchor symbol. This symbol is carved near the bottom of its barrel. The cannon also has "R.P.P. No. 140 3495 LBS" written on it. This likely shows the inventor, Robert Parker Parrott, and its weight. The year it was made, 1862, is also carved on one side. It also says "30 PDR," which means "30-pounder."
The Cannon and the Grand Army of the Republic
A Gift for Veterans
In 1900, the United States War Department offered a cannon to a group in Lyndeborough. This group was called the Harvey Holt Post of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR). The GAR was a group for soldiers who fought in the Civil War. They wanted to put the cannon near their meeting place, Citizens' Hall. The town agreed on March 14, 1900. The GAR received the cannon in 1902.
Honoring John Alonzo Hartshorn
That same year, the GAR dedicated the cannon to John Alonzo Hartshorn. They held a dinner with over 200 people at Citizens' Hall. Hartshorn was born on July 14, 1840. His parents were Susannah Putnam Hartshorn and John Hartshorn. He grew up in South Lyndeborough.
Hartshorn's Service and Sacrifice
On May 20, 1861, John Alonzo Hartshorn joined the army. He was part of the 2nd New Hampshire Infantry Regiment. He served in Virginia with the Army of the Potomac. On May 5, 1862, Hartshorn was killed. This happened during the Battle of Williamsburg in Virginia. He was the second person from Lyndeborough to die in the Civil War. Harvey Holt, who the GAR post was named after, was the first person from Lyndeborough to die in the war.
The Cannon and the South Lyndeborough Common
Changes to the Village Green
By 1934, all the Civil War veterans from Lyndeborough had passed away. The Harvey Holt Post of the GAR no longer existed. Meanwhile, South Lyndeborough was changing. In 1914, a local group made a central area into a village common. By 1933, the state took over Forest Road, making it New Hampshire Route 31. This meant more cars would drive through the small town.
Moving the Cannon
The paving of Route 31 in 1933 disturbed the common. It tore up plants and grass. This made people realize how important the common's location was. So, in 1934, the town decided to move the Hartshorn Memorial Cannon to the common. It was placed where it could be seen from Alonzo Hartshorn's childhood home and his church. However, the town accidentally put the cannon too close to the state road.
A New Location for Safety
In the early 1980s, Route 31 was made wider. This caused the Hartshorn Cannon to get damaged. Snow plows and road salt hurt it during the winter. Because of this, in 2009, someone moved the cannon. It was taken to a "temporary location" about three miles away. This caused some discussion in the town.
Bringing the Cannon Back Home
The town leaders, called the Board of Selectmen, formed a committee. This group included local experts and veterans. They wanted to find a permanent spot for the cannon and other war memorials. In April 2010, the committee decided to move the memorials back to the South Lyndeborough Village Common. They wanted to keep the history of the area strong. The Hartshorn Cannon was moved back in May 2010. It was placed in a new spot, further from the road. The cannon was a main focus of the town's 2010 Memorial Day ceremonies.
Future Plans for the Common
On August 21, 2010, the Monuments Committee shared a plan for the common. They wanted to add fences, trees, granite benches, and walkways. They also planned a new Vietnam monument and a new base for the Hartshorn Cannon. The community planned to raise money for these improvements by selling personalized bricks for the walkway.
