Okay, time for a funny story.

Besides, I owe ya something more than just Spirit of America stuff (thanks to those readers who have kindly donated, btw). That, and this cellulitis I'm suffering from is kinda slowing me down. So, lets go into obscure Ordnance and funny story related thereto.

The United States wasn't always a military super-power. It wasn't until we found ourselves mired in the Cold War that we maintained a relatively large standing force and a robust R&D capability. Prior to that, we were like most second-tier military states, just getting by, and stretching out the service life of things like cannon as long as we could. Heck, some first tier states, like Britain, did that too.

Such was the life of the 3-inch Ordnance Rifle.

Developed just prior to the Civil War, it was the second most common, and probably the most favored, field piece. Well made (at least the Union examples), tough, and accurate, it provided good service during the war.

After the war, they remained in service for decades. In the 1870-90s the world was shifting over to breech-loaded cannon, and the Army decided we needed to follow suit.

The last gasp of glory for the 3-inch Ordnance rifle was the Spanish-American war, where it served as a training gun, after which it retired to garrison... as a salute gun. Therein lies our tale. After many accidents in using the guns in the muzzle-loading configuration, they were converted to breech-loaders. The gun was converted to breech-loading by extending the bore all the way through, making it a tube open at both ends, and then cutting through from the side a square hole to take a sliding breech block. Voilà! Instant cartridge loaded gun. Several hundred of these guns went through this process between 1901 and 1907.

The guns were spread all over the country, and had a specific mount built for them. Some were maintained on carriages and used as salute batteries for visiting dignitaries, 4th of July "Salutes to the Nation" and such, but most common were the fixed guns on the Main Parade, by the flagpole. While they could be fired for reveille (morning wake up) they were most often fired at noon and at 5PM, when the flag was lowered during a ceremony called Retreat. Many military installations still fire a gun at Retreat, it's one of those things I like about working on-post - Call To Colors and Retreat played at 5PM, and people will stop their cars and get out and stand at Attention and salute as appropriate. Living off post, I miss Taps being played at 10PM, too.

Anyway, at Fort Sill, in the 20's and 30's, the salute gun was on the Main Parade (it's now in front of Post Headquarters). The actual gun we're talking about is by the Field Artillery Museum buildings. Main Parade is surrounded by stately Victorian quarters, characteristic of all Army posts that existed prior to WWI.

The kids played on the Main Parade field all the time (and still do). During that era, croquet was a popular game, played by children and adults. And the Civil War was the last 'romantic' war - especially in comparison to the recently ended WWI. And the kids used to play around the salute gun all the time. And a croquet ball is... 3 inches in diameter. And it's the 3-inch Ordnance Rifle...

One of the things any cannoneer has drummed into them when approaching a gun you haven't been actively servicing - and that you are supposed to do with separate-loading guns after every shot - is check the bore, to make sure it is clear of obstructions, in the case of a 'cold gun' not recently fired, and to ensure that the bore is clear of burning matter after firing before you go tossing more powder bags in.

Well, one fine day, the crew for the salute gun failed to check the bore. And the kids had been playing croquet. And apparently they'd been playing a little Army, too. And a croquet ball, rammed partially down the muzzle, when helped along with a 1-pound charge of black powder, will do a pretty good job of smashing brickwork on a house, even if it wasn't enough to penetrate.

The 3-inch Ordnance Rifle (76.2 millimeters) was replaced with a 75mm gun the next day.