Where is Joe Traxs Cannon ?

[Gypsy Heart]

Where is Joe Trax's Cannon ?

Joe Trax's Cannon.

I was reading over old Newspaper clippings from The GAR 1913 Reunion at Gettsyburg and found this interesting tidbit.....

Joe Trax of Newcastle, Pa., brought a cannon with him to the celebration the like of which is seldom seen. As Trax himself said, he wouldn't trade it for one of the modern artillery guns in the regular camp even if something were given to boot. When asked why, he explained that it was composed of melted brass buttons from Federal and Confederate uniforms, field spoons, a key from Ford's theatre Washington, where Lincoln was assassinated, twenty-five pounds of regulation silver watch cases and - he couldn't remember just what else was dropped into the melting pot. "Junk, but historic junk," he laconically asserted.

Trax was a trooper in Company B, West Virginia cavalry. He was wounded at Lynchburg, and to top his story concerning the composition of the cannon he said the bullet which lodged in his right thigh was part of the glistening muzzle.

 

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[jeff of pa]

Re: Where is Joe Trax's Cannon ?

Intresting.

Wonder if it's still in the family, or melted down once again.

May be worth someone researching his family.

Could be gathering dust in a basement.
or worse. a Junk pile in the back yard.
thrown there by a family member or new home owner
who just didn't give a ........

 

[Gypsy Heart]

Re: Where is Joe Trax's Cannon ?

Wheeling Intelligencer - August 28, 1907 - A RELIC OF WARS -The Famous Custer Cannon Is Here and is Attracting Much Attention -- The famous "Custer Cannon" was an arrival yesterday for the reunion. It was brought here by Joseph Trax, of New Castle,PA.,
who is its owner, and is justly proud of the relic of many battles of the late war. He had the cannon cast at the Fort Pitt works,Pittsburgh, and it is composed of bugles, shells, badges, sabres and relics from various battlefields from all parts of the country. Trax was an orderly under Custer during the civil war, and named thecannon for him, while on it is engraved the shoulder straps ofCuster, also flags, eagles and various other designs. In all, thereare in its composition 118 relics of the Blue and Gray. The cannonhas been exhibited at 24 national encampments, 24 reunions, 9 state encampments, and many other affairs. Mr. Trax was in Co.B., Second West Virginia Cavalry, and has also with him a flag,well preserved, which was presented to the Second West Virginiaby the ladies of Wheeling in 1865.The relics are in the window at headquarters on Twelfth street,but the cannon will be in the parade on tomorrow morning, and it will be halted at the Fort Henry monument, on Main street hill,during the parade, and a salute fired.
The Mansfield News, Sept 2, 1908: “Trax, with the assistance ofhis comrades dragged his unique “Custer” cannon through the parade, firing it repeatedly. Trax was General Custer’s orderly in West Virginia and collected a vast amount of articles on battlefields which he afterward moulded in his cannon. The gun contains among other things four pounds of brass buttons, four regimental and three division bugles, eighty buckles, two brass door keys to the Ford theatre, Washington; five eagles from flags, 23 spurs, 16 army spoons, one cow bell and 24 copper pennies captured at Lexington. – The men of Custer’s command in the parade were easily distinguished by the streaming red ties which they wore. It is related by Mr. Trax that when marching up Pennsylvania avenueafter the war, Mrs. Elizabeth Custer, wife of the general, threw along piece of red flannel at her husband’s command, the samebeing caught by Mr. Trax. It was torn up on the spot and made into neckties by the men and has since then been their distinguishing mark at encampments and reunions. Some fifteen of these ties were visible in today’s parade.
”Fitchburg Daily Sentinel, July 5, 1913 – JOE TRAX’S CANNON- “Joe Trax of New Castle, Pa., brought a cannon with him to the celebration the like of which is seldom seen. As Trax himself said,he wouldn’t trade it for one of the modern artillery guns in the regular camp even if something were given to boot. When asked why, he explained that it was composed of melted brass buttons from Federal and Confederate uniforms, field spoons, a key fromFord’s theater, Washington, where Lincoln was assassinated;twenty-five pounds of regulation silver watchcases and – he couldn’t remember just what else dropped into the melting pot.“Junk but historic junk,” he laconically asserted.“Trax was a trooper in Company B West Virginia cavalry. He was wounded at Lynchburg, and to top his story concerning the composition of the cannon he said the bullet which lodged in his right thigh was a part of the glistening muzzle.
”The Daily Northwestern – September 28, 1915 - THE CUSTER CANNON SALUTES OLD SOLDIERS. – Historic Piece of OrdnanceTaken to Washington to Perform The Wisconsin Delegates.(Special to The Northwestern.) –
Washington, D. C., Sept. 28. – “A Grand Army encampment without a salute from the celebrated Custer cannon would hardly be a regular Grand Army encampment.At least it would not so rank in the minds of the surviving union soldiers of the civil war. Therefore, the Custer cannon has been brought to Washington that from its throat again may roar thewelcome that has been a feature for more than thirty nationalgatherings of the boys who wore the blue during the great rebellion.“The Custer cannon was cast at Fort Pitt, Pittsburg, Pa., after relics from practically every state in the union had been melted for its composition. It consists of one B & O brass lock from Harper’s Ferry, one cow bell, two brass drum rims, two brass door keys from Ford’s theater, Washington, D.C., where Lincoln was killed; two eagles from division flags, three gold dollars of war times, three division bugles, four pounds of buckles from artillery harness, five spears of infantry flags, five sleeve buttons, five white metal watchcases of army service, nine pairs of spurs (confederate), thirteenbrass caps from shells, fourteen United States buckles from infantry, sixteen army spoons, twenty-pound piece of a bell pickedup at Charleston, twenty-four pairs of union spurs, twenty-four copper cents captured at Lexington, thirty-six United States cavalry buckles, 104 Spencer carbine cartridges. The weight is 252 pounds,and it is polished, General Custer’s shoulder strap is engraved upon the band. The cannon is named for General Custer.“It is the property of Joseph Trax, a member of Company B,Second West Virginia cavalry, who resides at New Castle, Pa. Mr.Trax will wear the same red necktie he wore when he marched down Pennsylvania avenue fifty years ago in grand review. He will have with him his little granddaughter, who will carry the silk flag which belonged to the Third Cavalry division, and which was in the review fifty years ago.” [Note: He said he had no children and none was found in census records.
Syracuse Herald, (N.Y) – August 20, 1917 – Boston, Aug. 20. -“Joseph Trax of Newcastle, Pa., carefully guarded the 150-poundCuster cannon, which has been exhibited at their grand
encampments. The cannon is made of relics collected during the Civil war, and will be hauled in the parade tomorrow at the head of troops who fought under General Custer.
”The Indianapolis Star, September 29, 1921. – ANNUALPARADE OF VETERANS INSPIRES CITY – “A division almost all to himself was Joe Trax, once Gen. Custer’s orderly who had a little brass cannon made of various war trophies. Mr. Trax himself was draped with a flag flung toga-wise about his form, and ever and an on he would stop and fire his cannon, which let our a roar that set the pigeons that next in the buildings about the Circle soaring skyward in startled flocks.
”Joseph Trax attended the 1922 G. A. R. Encampment, May 16-18, 1922 at Moundsville, West Virginia.MOUNDSVILLE, WEST VIRGINIA, MAY 1922.New York Times – Sept 6, 1923 – CIVIL WAR VETERANS INANNUAL PARADE – “Uncle Joe Trax, who came from Newcastle, Pa.with his famous Custer cannon, had a great time along the line of march. With coat off, he loaded rammed and fired the cannon as several young women from Maryland hauled it through the streets.

”Joseph Trax died of “Chronic Valvular Heart Disease” on 22 February 1927 at NewCastle. He was interred at Greenwood Cemetery two days later.

Thanks to Richard A. Wolfe for identifying Joseph Trax in the 1907 picture.The New York Times online store is selling costly reprints of a reunion photo taken in New York in 1919.
In April 2006, the caption said, “Custer’s Command 1919. – The last members of Gen. George Armstrong Custer’s command gather for their 43rd annual reunion in September 1919. The cannon was forged from bits of brass found on the battlefield at Custer’s Last Stand.”Joseph Trax is in the New York Times picture with his cannon and Richard Wolfe verified that the cannon is indeed the one owned by Trax.A message to the New York Times store resulted in a change in the description:“Custer’s Command 1919 - The last members of Gen. George Armstrong Custer's command gathers for their 43rd annual reunion in September 1919. The "Custer gun"was a "composite souvenir." Cast at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with relics contributed by every state in the Union. ”Missing is the fact that it was made from CIVIL WAR relics and was owned by a CIVIL WAR soldier, not Custer’s men from the Indian Wars.

 

[DCMatt]

Re: Where is Joe Trax's Cannon ?

Wonder if it's still in the family, or melted down once again.

May be worth someone researching his family.

Could be gathering dust in a basement.
or worse. a Junk pile in the back yard.
thrown there by a family member or new home owner
who just didn't give a ........

If Trax passed away in '27, the cannon may have collected dust for 15 years, then been tossed into a pile during WWII scrap metal drive. It would be nice to think of it that way - a fitting and proper end. Of course, we'll never know for sure...

DCMatt