I had heard there was a gun in a Lawrence, Kansas museum being identified as Ole' Sacramento and made a trip there to view the piece. I was told Ole Sacramento had been a six or nine pounder bored out to a 12 (4.62"). I checked the bore and found this to be true. The piece's cross section over the trunions is rather unique and the piece had burst, apparently in an attempt to cause a victim of drowning's body to float to the surface on the Kaw River. The gun was packed with powder, mud and straw, causing an over-pressure and the gun to burst.

I spoke with the curator, who was also of the opinion this piece was not Ole' Sacramento, but may be Ol' Kickapoo, a locally cast gun used before and, I assume, during the war. There is a picture floating about of a Kansas free-state battery using a piece with a similar, if not identical cross-section. There would be an inherent danger in boring a 3.67" bore to 4.62", but a nine pounder could have been done without too much risk. I believe the Mexican army had some British equipment and a nine pounder might have been present in California. Just a thought for your consideration.

Steven L. Burton