Napoleon Gun

French bronze gun, designed 1856; intended to replace the light and heavy field guns of that time, and thus to simplify the field artillery service; adopted into U. S. service 1857, and retained until the introduction of the 3-in. wrought-iron rifled gun. It did good service during the Civil War, its destructive power at the short ranges, within which the heavily wooded and broken character of the country forced battles to be fought, giving it a great advantage. Its caliber was 4.62 in., length 72.15 in., weight 1,200 lbs.