Though weighing over 1,200 pounds, the 12-pounder Napoleon field guns or "gun-howitzers" were considered light artillery and were the most widely used artillery pieces of the Civil War, and the Revere Copper Co. manufactured more of them than another other foundry, 461 of the roughly 1,157 manufactured in the North during the war (see page 91 of "Field Artillery Weapons of the Civil War" by Hazlett). Additional Revere Napoleons appear to have been made for individual states. 36% of the Union artillery pieces at Gettysburg were Napoleons, and 130 Napoleons were used by the Union forces at Antietam. The company was the descendant of Paul Revere's foundry in Boston. The Napoleon 12-pounders could fire solid shot or explosive shells nearly a mile (max range of 1,600+ yards) as well as shot for close range engagements. They are also historically significant as the last cast bronze cannons used by the U.S. military. The muzzle is marked "No. 131 REVERE COPPER CO 1231/T.J.R. 1862." indicating it was inspected by Thomas Jackson Rodman, the inventor of the Rodman gun and commander of the Rock Island Arsenal from 1865 until his death in 1871. The tube's smoothbore is roughly 63 3/4 inches in length, and it has "U.S." in ornate letters on top near the trunnions. The ornate nature of this marking is one of the distinctive aspects of the Revere guns. "137" is marked by the right trunnion. It is mounted on a carriage.

Very Fine, untouched original tube with vibrant verdigris overall and mild overall wear. This is definitely a very attractive piece of a historic Civil War artillery.