Ohio History Journal

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COLLECTIONS

AND

EXHIBITS

 

 

THE POWDER HORN

 

by WILLIAM G. KEENER and

DONALD A. HUTSLAR

 

 

 

 

 

OUR COUNTRY MUST

AND SHALL BE DEFENDED

WE WILL ENJOY OUR

LIBERTY OR PERISH

IN THE LAST DITCH

 

In a parlor game these ringing phrases

might be attributed to a Samuel Adams or

a Patrick Henry. They belong, instead, to

one Tim Tansel. Together with a running

deer, the arms of the United States, a

young lady vaguely representing Liberty,

four equestrian military figures, and a

tribute to "A: Gin: Jackson," they com-

prise the decorations engraved on his

powder horn in the year 1836.

The carrier of this message was the

most utilitarian of objects. It was an

essential piece of equipment for every

arms-bearing soldier in the first three

major conflicts fought on American soil,

and served as the almost constant com-

panion of hunters, trappers, traders, and

settlers during the same period. Powder

was precious. Some colonial officers even