Saxe-Gotha Artillery
Saxe-gotha alarm cannon (ca. 1800) displayed at Schloss Friedenstein in Gotha. The gun carriage is painted in the green and white heraldic colours of the Duchy of Saxe-Gotha. It is interesting to note that the trunnions are clamped to the barrel rather than cast on. The barrel may have been damaged in battle, either by enemy artillery fire, or by having the trunnions knocked off with a hammer when the gun position was captured. The screwed clamp closure on top of the barrel makes the cannon difficult to sight, which is why it may have been used as a salute or alarm cannon.
