The system of ordnance adopted by the U.S. Army in the 1840's was the picture of simplicity: six- and 12-pounder field guns, 12-, 24-, and 32-pounder field howitzers, 18- and 24-pounder siege and garrison guns, and 32- and 42-pounder sea-coast guns. With such a need for guns in the Civil War, they used a wide amount of pieces for it like superseded ordnance to modern experimental objects such as ones imported from Great Britain.

The term 'Gun', as a term of art, is a relatively long barreled cannon made to fire objects at almost a flat rate. Howitzers, on the other hand, have shorter barrels with a chamber at the base of the bore, thus made for a smaller charge. The howitzer's range is shorter than the "gun's", but shows more arc when shot.

The Civil War accelerated the technological development of ordnance. Before the War, the typical cannon was a bronze, muzzle-loading sm

In 1867, Parrott turned the execution of the foundry over to other parties, but he continued to experiment with projectile and fuses until his demise on December 24, 1877.

Many Civil War artillery researchers and collectors know Robert P. Parrott for his inventions of the projectile and cannon, which bear his name. Born in Lee, New Hampshire, October 5, 1804, Parrott graduated 3rd in his class at West Point Military Academy in 1824. He was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the 3rd U.S. Artillery and was assigned to the southeastern states where he participated in the Creek Indian War. He was afterward assigned as assistant to the Chief of the Ordnance Bureau and, later, as an inspector of ordnance at the West Point Foundry at Cold Spring, New York. The foundry was a private firm and administered by civilians. Parrott, by this time a captain, resigned his rank and accepted the civilian position of superintendent of the foundry, October 31, 1836. Parrott served the foundry well during the next 41 years. He became the lessee and operator of the foundry and experimented with the manufacturing of artillery.

Some common words found in the essay are:
Civil War, Spring York, West Foundry, Basic Weapons, Common Weapons, Basic Terminology, Military Academy, Hampshire October, Robert Parrott, civil war, Indian War, rifled cannon, 29-inch calibre, wrought iron, west foundry, 10-pounder 29-inch, 10-pounder 29-inch calibre,
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