The Summer 2002 issue of The Artilleryman contained an advertisement by South Bend Replicas (SBR) with their reproduction next to an original iron Stedman 6 pdr. This motivated me to assemble the information I know about this gun to submit for others that might be interested.
My research by no means can be considered exhaustive; however, I have spent considerable time trying to gather information regarding this particular piece.
The tube restored by South Bend Replicas was manufactured in 1861 by Stedman & Co. of Aurora, Ind. A short article in the Aurora Commercial newspaper dated Oct. 24, 1861, sheds a considerable amount of light:
“Messrs. Stedman & Co., of this city, have been awarded a contract for making twelve smooth bore six pound cannon, for the use of the border counties. We understand the contract for building the carriages for these guns has not yet been awarded, and can yet be obtained by persons desirous of securing such a job. Here is a chance for some enterprising wood worker.”
The only other article linked directly to these guns is in the March 6, 1862, Aurora Commercial that reads, “The heavy firing in this city on Tuesday was caused by the trial of the cannon cast at the foundary (sic) in this city.”
The restored gun is No. 5. There are 12 counties bordering the Ohio River in Indiana. Aurora, which is in Dearborn County, happens to be the southeastern most county in Indiana. From this we can guess that each one of the 12 counties would have received one gun.
The newspaper article states they are 6-pdr. guns, a standard designation. SBR gauged the bore during restoration and determined it to be 3.75 inches. Perhaps the original intent was to have a 3.67-inch bore and due to a flaw it had to be oversized. Newspaper articles indicate Aurora did have a bronze 6 pdr. at the time. If Stedman Foundry was not particularly familiar with cannon making perhaps a quick measurement provided 3.75 inches. Then, again, perhaps they decided to use the size tooling they had on hand.
There is mention of needing a carriage. The dimensions of the tube indicate it will not fit a standard field carriage. Tube No. 5 weighs in at 1480 lbs., which is stamped above the knob on the breech. Comparison to a M1841 bronze 6 pdr. at 880 lbs. indicates this tube is significantly larger.
The distance between the rimbases is 14 inches compared to 12 inches on a 32 pdr. field howitzer. The trunnion diameter is 4 inches compared to 3.67 inches for a M1841 bronze 6 pdr. and 4.2 inches for a 12 pdr. Napoleon.
Another irregularity is with the knob, which is typically the same diameter as the trunnion diameter or at least very close. On the Stedman tube the trunnion diameter is 4 inches and the knob is 5.45 inches.
A quick look at this tube gives the impression of an overweight 6 pdr. Until I received the official stamped weight from Paul Barnett of SBR I had based a presumed weight on information from another article I came across in the Lawrenceburg, Ind., newspaper, The Register.
The Aug. 29, 1862, article reads as follow: “Artillery – A six pounder artillery piece, weighing 1,300 pounds, will arrive from Indianapolis this day. The gun is said to be of the best quality, but is not mounted; therefore the citizens will be called upon to contribute means for the purpose of procuring the carriage and necessary equipment, which should immediately attended to.”
Stedman is one of the few companies that produced Civil War cannons still in existence today. Although no longer a foundry, the company, now a machine shop, is at the same location. Paul Barnett and I both, at different times, have contacted Stedman trying to glean information, with no success. I did find a few words regarding their production of cannon balls during the Civil War, but nothing else, in a brief history published by Stedman.
There was word that another Stedman existed at the Indiana Sailors and Soldiers Children’s Home in Knightstown, Ind. The home allowed me to view their “cannon” file, which contained reference to a 10 pdr. Parrott and a 6 pdr. “Napoleon,” but nothing resembled a description that could be associated with a Stedman.
I want to thank Paul Barnett of South Bend Replicas for his assistance in providing helpful information. I also want to thank Wayne Stark, not only for the CAD drawing and postcard of this particular gun featured with this article, but also for his willingness to assist this newcomer to Civil War artillery.
I would like to request anyone having additional information on this particular make of cannon to contact me at 26633 Lawrenceville Rd., Sunman, IN 47041; by e-mail at jkm1988@nalu.net; or by phone at (812) 623-5578.