The Many Adventures of The Cannon At Fort Augusta

 
What the old Bechtel's cow was to my generation, the Cannon at Fort Augusta was to my great great grandfathers generation.  When I was a teenager, the cow off the top of Bechtels restaurant would somewhat frequently go missing.  Never for too long, it was always returned - but it was quite the prank, as it as not a small cow.  

But I don't think it was nearly as heavy as a cannon.  Granted, the cannon was never placed on the roof of buildings - but stealing it and hiding it was a regular event.

The Four pound cannon appears to be the one mentioned in these stories- 

I think this photo shows the broken muzzle

But there is also a two pound cannon at Fort Augusta, shown in the book "The Fort Augusta Story"

A Fort Augusta Cannon.

From The Frontier Forts Within The North And West Branches

of the Susquehanna River. By John M. Buckalew.

"There is but one of the cannon that was formerly mounted upon the fort known to be in existence. Mr. Hendricks took the commission to Fire Engine House No. 1 and showed us the highly prized relic. Dr. R. H. Awl, of Sunbury, furnished J. F. Meginness its history for his History of the West Branch Valley and a cut of the old cannon. 

It is securely fastened and carefully guarded. It is supposed it was thrown in the river at the time of the great Runaway in 1778, after being spiked. 

In 1798 it was reclaimed from the river by George and Jacob Mantz, Samuel Hahn and George Shoop. After heating, by burning several cords of hickory wood, they succeeded in drilling out the spiked file. 

It has had quite a checkered experience, being stolen from one place to another to serve the different political parties, between times hidden in places considered secure until 1834, when Dr. R. H. Awl and ten other young men of Sunbury made a raid on Selinsgrove at night, secured the much-prized relic and have retained it ever since. 

Of the eleven young men engaged in its rescue sixty years ago the doctor is the only one living to tell the tale of its return. 

It is of English make, weighs about one thousand pounds and has about three and one-half inch bore. A drunken negro sledged off the ring at the muzzle, out of pure wantonness in 1838.

1824 - 1840  The Cannon Thefts

Sunbury had a cannon that was used to fire salutes on the 4th of July and "other national festive days". 

 Selinsgrove did not have a cannon, but "greatly coveted" the one at Sunbury.  So a party from Selinsgrove was organized, and they went to Sunbury and stole it. 

(1825 Navigation Day)

According to H.F. Deering, who told the story to the Snyder County Tribune in 1896 (When he was age 92) the cannon was stored in Capt. Daniel Bakers cellar for safe keeping.  

"The sunburians were determined to recapture their cannon, and immediately set to work.  Some of their young men became smitten by the charms of the fair maidens of Selinsgrove, and by that means were able to make many visits to the town without raising undue suspicions.  One of them courted a hired girl of Bakers, and succeeded in persuading her to unbar the cellar door at a certain time.  The cannon was recaptured and returned to Sunbury.

A party from New Berlin stole it next, and later it was brought back to Selinsgrove. 

 It remained there for several yeas, before the citizens of Sunbury stole it back once again.

At Sunbury Fire Company No. 1

Cannon Captured By The Fire Company - September 4th 1886

Heim, Starner, others - stolen from the cellar of Sheller Hoey

"The checkered career of the cannon did not end until 1893 when it came into the possession of the Sunbury Fire Company No. 1. 

In 1899, the Mantz Heirs were threatening legal action if the cannon was not returned to them.

"Since that date it has had but two public appearances, once when the fire company moved to a new home, and again in 1922, when the fire company carried the cannon on one of its fire trucks as a part of the Sesquicentennial celebration of the founding of Sunbury."

"For the past forty years the old piece of ordinance has rested undisturbed in Sunbury, and is still an honored and valuable historic relic.  The boys of the No. 1 company ill cherish it and guard it carefully as it was guarded in years gone by." - Sullivan Republican 1894

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RETURN TO FORT AUGUSTA

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April 1934

SEEK TO RETURN HISTORIC CANNON TO FORT AUGUSTA 

Effort to Regain Old Field Piece For Valuable Collection Now Maintained on Site of Original Fort Being Made.

 A determined effort to secure for the Northumberland County Historical Society the ancient cannon in possession of the Sunbury, Steam which was Fire a Engine part of the company original armament of Fort Augusta is under way at the present time with hopes of success. The matter has been taken up by public spirited citizens with the trustees of the fire company and a nearly report is expected. The cannon, one of the crude implements of war common in the colonial days, was cast in brass and for some years was a trophy of riv. al factions in Sunbury, Northumberland and Selinsgrove, raids in which the cannon was seized having been frequent inter-town occurrences for a number of years.

At one time, so it is related, it was hidden for some years in the cellar of Northumberland home. It has been in the custody of the No. 1 Fire Co. here for some years. More sentiment is believed attached to this memento than any other from old Fort Augusta.

The appeal has been made that the cannon should properly be in the care of the Historical Society which would return it to the original site of Fort Augusta, where numerous other valuable relics are maintained by the society. Local historians have been informed that a cannon ball from the old fort here is in the possession of a Rolling Green man who has offered to turn it over to the historical society and also that a cannon of design similar to in the custody of the fire company is in a designated spot in the north branch of the Susquehanna. An effort is expected to be made during the coming summer to retrieve this old piece.

However, at the next meeting, no action was taken.  The cannon would not return to Fort Augusta until years later.

George Neff & Herber Gearhart examined the cannon at the Company No. 1 on February 1 1936.

From The Fort Augusta Story - This 2lb cannon has a smooth end, and is most likely not the one referred to as the one so often stolen.

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RETURN TO FORT AUGUSTA

1939

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1939

Add Original Cannon To Fort Augusta Collection 

One of the most valuable additions made to the extensive display of relics of the Northumberland County Historical Society, housed in the society's headquarters at Fort Augusta is a cannon, reliably believed to have been used at the fort in the eighteenth century, obtained today by George H. Neff, vice president of the society and Heber G. Gearhart, the secretary. The piece, which is quaint and toy-like when contrasted with modern armaments, is unusually well preserved, even to the wooden mountings. These are of the type commonly pictured on ancient cannon, the heavy barrel being secured by heavy iron bands and bolts to the wooden structure, on either side of which is a projecting wooden pivot, for use in raising or lowering the muzzle.

The rare old memento was purchased from William Awl street, chased from Charles. Young, son who had come into possession of it ten or fifteen years ago. It had previously been stored in the backyard of a home on Railroad Avenue and children in the vicinity played with it. Roy Brown, a WPA worker engaged on a project at Fort Augusta had told Messrs. Neff and Gearhart of the unusual relic some months ago and photographs and drawings were made of the cannon.

These were submitted to J. H. Gildea, then congressman for the local district with a re- quest for information as to the authenticity of the weapon. Gildea submitted the data to the War Department and the information from that source was that the cannon was of a type made in England about 1730. Such cannon were commonly used on ships, but some were also brought to the colonies for use in fortifications.

Records show that a shipment of cannon was brought from Harris Ferry, now Harrisburg, to Fort Augusta in 1756, having been transported by. boat on the Susquehanna River. Dr. Donald A. Cadzow, archaeologist of the State Historical Commission inspected the piece some weeks ago and was intensely interested in it.

Nothing was left undone in the effort to prove the authenticity of the, cannon and there is no reason to doubt that it was part of the original battery of the historic old fort. As such it will be a priceless addition to the relics of the Historical Society in Fort Augusta museum. One other cannon used at Fort Augusta is known to be in existence. This has been in the possession of the Sunbury Steam Fire Engine Company No. 1 for many years and in years gone by was a trophy in inter-town feuds involving Sunbury, Northumberland, Selinsgrove. The cannon is particularly  treasured because Fort Necessity and -other comparable shrines connected with the early history of the nation, lack such relics.

From The Fort Augusta Story - This 2lb cannon has a smooth end, and is most likely not the one referred to as the one so often stolen.

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READ MORE

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 "A four-pounder cannon was mounted in the centre of each of its four bastions, and the two northern cannon, from the fort's well arranged position, could very easily and nicely command the waters of our North and West branches of the Susquehanna river with their balls; while our land-side commanded the same in that direction. Other cannon were also planted at other points of the fort"  - Fort Augusta, As Described In 1871 in the Williamsport Bulletin

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Also mentioned in:

Reminisces of Sunbury, By Irwin, included the article by Dr R.H. Awl, on the old cannon.

Pages 36-41.

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1889 Northumberland Democrat

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April 29th 1920

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April 22th 1920

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"The student of history will find interesting comparisons between the small cannon on the battlements, and one of the cannon actually used, long the property of the Sunbury Steam Fire Engine Company No. 1, now inside the museum, handsomely mounted." - Daily Item, 1940

1951

There are many stories told about the old Fort Augusta cannon. By days of research we have found that it was! taken to Muncy, where it remained until 1774, when it was returned to Sunbury. It is generally thought that at the time of the Great Runaway in 1778 it was spiked and thrown in the Susquehanna near the Fort. At any rate it was taken from the river in 1798 by George and Jacob Mantz, Samuel Mahan and George Shoop. After heating it by burning several| cords of hickory wood they succeeded in drilling out the spike file.

Subject of Controversy Thereafter it became the object of political contention, frequently being changed from one party to another. At one time it was buried in Mr. At one time it was buried in Mr. Prince's archway on the south side of the public square. All went well until Mrs.

Prince stubbed her toe on a part of the cannon that projected above the ground. She must have told the world about it, for in a short time the opposite political party stole the cannon. They put it in the cellar of Robin's tannery, which was located where the Sunbury Water Company now has its offices in the old Caldwaller residence at Fifth and Market streets. In 1824 was stolen by a group of Selin's Grovers when it was placed on river bank at Sunbury and brought here, to be hidden in a Mr. Baker's' cellar.

Mr. Baker has had me guessing, lo these many years. He probably' lived where the grade school is now located or next door to Rea and Derick's Drug store or where the Snyder County Trust Company building is located. If anyone can house Mr. Baker and give us his full name we will be grateful.

At any rate a year passed by and in 1825 George Weiser, Esq., of Sunbury, visited our fair village. By some means he discovered where the Augusta cannon was reposing. He bribed Mrs. Baker's maid to leave the cellar door unlocked and to remove the Bakers' dog from their premises. All of which was most ungentlemanly.

That night a group of Sunburians including George Hileman, John Epley, John Weaver, John Pickering, James McCormick, John Diehl and others entered our village, and under the cover of night, retrieved the cannon and took it back to Sunbury. Upon arriving in their home town they took it to a hotel at Third and Market street, conducted by John Weaver. There they carried the cannon, weighing about half a ton, to the attic, where they placed it under a bed. Into the bed was ordered Joseph Eisely, age 14, as guard. In case anyone came over from "the west side,' he was to yell "bloody murder." | The next day being Independence Day, the cannon was placed on the river bank and fired in celebration thereof.

A negro named "Cudgo," who was intoxicated, took a sledge hammer and broke off a part of the cannon's muzzle..

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WWI Cannon In Cameron Park

When Imperial Germany surrendered at the end of

World War I in 1918, many of its cannon were sent to

the United States as war trophies.

This cannon was acquired by the City of Sunbury and Milton Jarret

Norman American Legion Post 201 and placed in

Cameron Park to honor Sunbury soldiers who fought

in "The Great War."

Restored in 2000, the cannon stands as a silent symbol of the

high cost of freedom.

77mm Field Gun (Fieldkanone) Model 16

Weight of Gun and Carriage: 3,108 lbs.

Muzzle Velocity: 1,968 feet per second

Maximum Elevation: 40 degrees

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Cannon in Northumberland

An Old Iron Cannon Unearthed. 

April 20th 1900 - Snyder Co Tribune

Last Wednesday T. M. Kessler Edward Burke and Adam Renner unearthed a cannon that had been buried by Mr. Burke on the old Northumberland Hotel lot in 1863. The cannon belonged to Jas. M. Kessler. of Hummel's Wharf, and was taken from his premises under cover of night and without his permission in 1856 by Joseph McAllister, Edward Burke and Henry Graham, and four other gentleman, now deceased, and was brought to Northumberland and buried where the D. L.& W. round-house now stands, and was removed from there to the above lot when the ground was broken for the building of the round-bouse. Mr. Kessler intends having the cannon mounted in front of his hotel, facing the passenger station. -Northumberland Press..