8th US Colored Heavy Artillery – Napoleon Gun with Limber

About the 8th US Colored Heavy Artillery – Napoleon Gun with Limber: The 8th US Colored Heavy Artillery was the first African American artillery unit recruited out of the state of Kentucky. The unit largely performed garrison duty in and around Paducah, a location where the Tennessee and Ohio Rivers converged. The strategic importance of this region was paramount for the Union’s defensive structure. The 8th saw combat at Fort Anderson against Confederate cavalry led by General Nathan Bedford Forrest. To fend off the Confederacy, the 8th mainly used the Napoleon 1857 12-pound gun (the weight referring to the size of the cannonball). This was a cast bronze, smooth-bore cannon that was loaded from the muzzle. Its ease of production and versatility made it commonplace both in the North and the South. The Napoleon guns used a crew of seven—with each member having a role in the operation—and were equipped with limbers for transportation and storage of powder and shot. Artillery crews were incredibly disciplined, as they were usually exposed during the heat of battle. Sentiment in the state of Kentucky was in flux as African Americans were recruited into service with the Union Army. Being a border state that was under martial law by President Lincoln, many of Kentucky’s white citizens were sympathetic to the Confederate cause. Various efforts to block African American recruitment turned to violence. By the war’s end, 24,000 Black men from Kentucky enlisted to fight with the Union Army, with others joining in other states as recruitment efforts had been delayed. Only Louisiana had more African American recruits than the Blue Grass state. Specifications: Crew: 9 Rate of fire: 1 round/minute Muzzle velocity: 1,485 ft/s (453 m/s) Effective firing range: 1,680 yd (1,536 m) Additional information about this Brickmania® custom building kit: This MOC-ready build features a pair of custom minifigs sporting 3D and UV printed kepis, as well as a custom printed ammo crate for the limber. The gun and limber connect for easy transport, and the gun’s scouring sticks can be detached and wielded by the minifigs. Model Statistics: Designed by Mary Wilson 71 LEGO®, BrickArms®, & Brickmania® elements 2x custom minifigs Custom printed elements Full-color printed building instructions 1/35th scale to match other Brickmania kits Sophomore Skill Level (2-4 years building experience recommended) All Brickmania® model kits are made of new-condition LEGO® bricks. This model comes disassembled and includes complete printed building instructions. This is a limited-edition kit and production may be discontinued at any time. This is not a LEGO® Product. LEGO and the LEGO minifigure are trademarks of the LEGO Group, which does not sponsor, authorize or endorse this product. The LEGO Group is not liable for any loss, injury or damage arising from the use or misuse of this product.