Secret defenses of Samoa

  Vailoa, Samoa Western
Thursday, October 25, 2007

Those of you who know Ray know that he is very involved with Civil War re-enacting.  This is a special report that he produced for the Battery Rag of Battery G Northern Illinois Light Artillery.  Though Ray had to give up his commission as a Sargent upon joining the Peace Corps, he still works undercover.

Lt. Tedrick:
Though in service to a foreign monarch, I am ever mindful of my true loyalty to the Union, and so have been gathering intelligence as to the military capabilities of the Samoan islands, in the eventuality that they enter the present conflict on one side or the other. To that end, I include herewith a complete photographic record of each and every artillery piece in the archipelago:
 

Canon 1

This impressive battery defends a strategically placed car rental agency overlooking Apia harbor on the island of Upolu. The guns are said to have

Canon 2

come from a British ship wrecked in the early 1800's which

Canon 3

were raised over the years by local villagers and finally sold

Canon 4

to the owner of the agency.  


 
The island of Savai'i is also well defended (from the position of the gun, I would have to say

Canon Savai'i

against attack by balloon). This piece has no visible markings and the present owner knows nothing of its history. Appears to be a 12 pdr, but very light weight for the bore, I should think it was some kind of gunnade



The picture on the right shows the gun emplacement which renders the small island of Manono an impregnable citadel. Again, there are no markings on the gun, and nothing is

Manono Canon

known of its history, but it is in good condition and fitted with a tompion, which is frustrating the efforts of the gunner to load it with a banana. 
 
Finally, since naval gunnery is an important branch of the science of artillery, I include the

Samoan Navy

following panoramic photograph which shows the entire Samoan navy. One must suppose that the guns have been cleverly concealed.

 
For those wishing details of my own humble efforts to increase the naval might of our Samoan allies, I refer you to the blog: travelpod.com/member/rayandjan.
I greatly miss the campaigns and companionship out here. Tell Sgt. Dave that this would be a great place for a 'perfect' reenactment, except you really yearn for the smell of powder smoke and the bang of the guns after a while.
 
Ray