Horn, Powder

Title:

Powder Horn

Object Name:

Horn, Powder

Creator:

D.L.

Date:

1756

Material:

Horn, wood, metal

Dimensions:

H-4.75 L-21 Dia-7 inches
Glass case:
13.500" L
6.250" H
7.500" D

Description:

Steer horn with wooden base; other end open for pouring; engraved with inscriptions (I Powder/ With My brother/ ball Most Like Doth Con/ quer all. DL/ 1756) and drawings of two soldiers dueling with swords; several deer; a bird etc.; old metal fastener in wooden base with string attached. Powder horn is enclosed in a glass case.

Provenance:

A powder horn was a container for gunpowder, typically created from cow, ox, or buffalo horn. Typically, there was a stopper at both ends, with the wide mouth being used for refilling, while the powder was dispensed from the narrow end. The horn was typically held by a long strap and slung over the shoulder.

Powder horns usually averaged about eleven inches in length, and their capacity generally ranged from about one-half to three-quarters of a pound of powder. Cattle horns were ideal containers to hold gunpowder for several reasons. First, a ready supply of horns were available to the British colonists so they would not have to be imported. Second, they were comfortable when slung around the body, and were also waterproof. Lastly, horn would not produce sparks when struck (unlike metal), therefore reducing the risk of injury.

This particular powder horn, dated 1756, could very well have been used by an American militiaman in the French and Indian War or the American Revolution. It bears a variation of a verse that was popular on powder horns at the time: "I powder, with my brother ball, most hero like doth conquer all." For some reason, the maker of this horn left out the word "hero."

Subjects:

Powder horn, Horns, Military equipment, French and Indian War

People:

Willey, William Lithgow

Place of Origin:

America

Collection Name:

Society of the Cincinnati in the State of New Hampshire

Item Number:

1990.047

Accession Number:

1990.047

Type of Material:

Objects

Copyright Statement:

For information regarding copyright, permissions, and reproductions contact the American Independence Museum

Credit Line:

Gift of Captain W.L. Willey, 1924

Participating Organization:

American Independence Museum