The bronze U.S. Model 1835 mountain howitzer tube was cast in the foundry of Cyrus Alger & Company of Boston, Massachusetts. The howitzer traces its origin to France, where it was developed and tested. They licensed its production in America in the early 1830s. It was added to the artillery system of the United States Army in 1836 with the Alger company receiving the first production contract. The first twelve were delivered on May 6th, 1837. Originally designed to be mule-pack artillery, the Model 1835 "12-Pounder" mountain howitzer was the smallest U.S. cannon of the period and could fire a 12-pound exploding shell to a distance of 1000 yards. It was a light field piece of great mobility and intended for use in all kinds of rough terrain. The Model 1835 carriage was upgraded in 1841, but no changes to the brass tube were made. The Model 1835 brass tube measures 37 inches long and almost 7 inches in diameter with a bore of 4 5/8 inches.