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Old 24th November 2011, 01:38 AM   #28
Jim McDougall
Arms Historian
 
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Route 66
Posts: 9,767
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Quote:
Originally Posted by katana
Hi Jim ,
I would imagine the decision whether to spike a cannon or not would be the decision of an officer asigned to the cannon. Therefore, perhaps also a status symbol of that authority. Hence, the ornamental element.

All the best
David

Hi David,
OK I follow that, just hadn't thought of the protocol and so on related to what was apparantly a preconceived possibility, and in the study on the 'bombardier stilettos' the use in this manner seemed more of a suggestion rather than inevitibility. The loss of guns was a major fear in warfare, and the taking of guns a great conquest in turn.
Here in Texas, one of the well known flags of the Texas Revolution was the flag with a cannon and the words , "Come and Take it" !
The Mexican government had given settlers a small cannon to be used against Comanches in 1831, but as tensions mounted between Texians and the government, Mexico decided they wanted it back. This was the flag flown at the Battle of Gonzalez, Oct 2,1835, first of the Revolution leading to the Alamo.

All the best,
Jim


All the best,
Jim
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