Model 1841 24-pounder howitzer

The 24-pounder was a bronze smoothbore, and was part of the 1841 US artillery series. By 1862 it was uncommon in Federal service, because of its short range and heavy weight, but still in Confederate use - valued for its accuracy and 'hitting power'.

There were 4 24-pounder howitzers in Confederate batteries at Sharpsburg.

Find units equipped with these.

spherical case, common shell, cannister

5.82 inches

1322 yards

65 inches

2446 pounds

Weight figure is for standard gun carriage (1,128 lb) + tube (1,318 lb).
Max range is for 2.5 lb black powder charge behind an 18.4 lb. shell at 5 degrees elevation.

Photograph adapted from one taken by Peter Schwartz at Gettysburg NMP, and part of an exhibit online.

See more about this and other Civil War artillery at the comprehensive Civil War Artillery Page, by Chuck Ten Brink or the very nice Basic Facts page from Jack W. Melton, Jr. The NPS has a fine general introduction to Civil War artillery in a 3-page presentation.

Johnson, Curt & Anderson, Richard C., Artillery Hell: Employment of Artillery at Antietam, College Station, TX: Texas A&M University Press, 1995.