Posted by Frederick V. Sloop on July 19, 1999 at 07:11:28:
In Reply to: 24 pounder flanking howitzers posted by Brendan Mackie on June 30, 1999 at 17:32:10:
Mr. Mackie,
In response to your posting on the Kittanning web site I have the following to offer. A few years ago I made some inquiries as to the location of the Civil War era cannons (most likely the 24 pound howitzers of your inquiry) that once graced the front entryway of the Armstrong County courthouse in Kittanning, PA. I grew up in that river town and in recent years I've become quite interested in historic preservation issues, especially those that pertain to the period of the Civil War. I was told by one or more long standing residents of Kittanning that during a fit of patriotic fervor during WW II the guns were donated to a scrap drive for the war effort. I cannot say absolutely that this is what happened, but it certainly seems plausible. There are some extremely knowledgeable people (George W. Baum - to name one) at the Armstrong Co. Historical Society / Museum, McKean Street, Kittanning, PA 16201, who might be able to give you a definitive answer to your question. You might want to send them a snail mail inquiry concerning those field pieces.
Best of luck,
Fred Sloop