“From loyal Americans in Europe to the United States Government, 1861.”
This Whitworth 12-pounder is at Gettysburg
From The New-York Times May 24, 1861:
PATRIOTIC AMERICANS ABROAD.; A BATTERY OF WHITWORTH GUNS PRESENTED TO THE GOVERNMENT.
A battery of the celebrated Whitworth guns, twelve-pounders, with ammunition and carriages complete, has just arrived in this City, as a present to the Government from patriotic Americans abroad. The battery is consigned to HENRY F. SPAULDING, SAMUEL D. BABCOCK, and HENRY A. SMYTHE, who have already informed Secretary CAMERON of its arrival, and that it is at the disposition of the Government. Each one of the guns bears the following inscription:
“From loyal Americans in Europe to the United States Government, 1861.”
Secretary of War Cameron: thanks for the Whitworths (LOC - LC-DIG-cwpb-05309)
Our countryman, Mr. R.G. MOULTON, at present residing in Manchester, deserves great credit for his energetic efforts in raising funds for the purchase of this battery. We understand that prompt action can secure a monopoly of the manufacture of the Whitworth guns to our Government. Would it not be well for the Union Defense Committee to make immediate inquiries into the expediency of taking some action towards this end.
Joseph Whitworth was a very successful and innovative British engineer. The CSA used some Whitworth rifles during the Civil War, when they were referred to as Whitworth Sharpshooters.
You can read a good summary of New York City’s Union Defense Committee at Suite 101.
I thought the term The Pond was a cool, modern expression for the Atlantic Ocean, but according to Wikipedia the expression has its origins in the mid-17th century. One of the terms used was “the herring-pond”.
Whitworth gun at wharf in Richmond April 1865 (LOC - LC-DIG-cwpb-02744)
Sir Joseph Whitworth - across the herring-pond
