The Civil War Cannon

The square has hosted several artillery pieces that were lost to various war efforts:

• 1901–1916: A Civil War Siege Howitzer was first placed as a tribute to fallen soldiers but was scrapped for metal during World War I.
• 1931–1940s: A German-made cannon from WWI was dedicated in 1931. It was famously rolled up the hill to the courthouse by local veterans but was later scrapped for World War II.
• Japanese Trophy: Washington is also known as one of only three locations in Kansas to house a Japanese World War II “war trophy” cannon, adding to the military displays on the courthouse grounds.

The Civil War Marker

The accompanying marker and cannon serve as a visible tribute to the residents who served and sacrificed for their country. At the 2007 dedication, local officials noted that the monument signifies “the price of freedom” and serves as a lasting honor for Washington County’s military history.

That engraving is Japanese, and it’s on what looks like a WWII-era artillery shell or artillery-related component. Here’s what it says, line by line, in plain English:

Top line

迫撃砲 軽式 四九
→ Light-type mortar, Model 49
(“迫撃砲” = mortar)

Middle

№ 14
→ Serial / production number 14

Below that

製年 昭和九年
→ Manufactured in Showa Year 9
That corresponds to 1934.

Bottom

大阪 工廠
→ Osaka Arsenal (a major Imperial Japanese Army weapons factory)

What this means overall

This object was manufactured in 1934 at the Osaka Army Arsenal and is part of a Japanese light mortar system, likely pre–World War II but later used during the war. The heavy rust and patina are totally consistent with age and outdoor exposure. If this is part of a monument or display (which it looks like, given the mounting ring), it’s almost certainly deactivated and historical, not functional.

This appears to be a close-up of a Japanese military artillery or mortar round, most likely dating to the pre–World War II / early World War II period, and the markings give us a lot of useful historical detail.

Reading the markings (top to bottom)

The vertical Japanese characters include:

• 迫撃砲 (hakugekihō) – “mortar”
• 軽 – “light”
• 式四九 – “Type 49”
• No. 14 – a serial or production number
• 製年 昭和九年 – “Manufactured in Showa Year 9”
• 大阪砲兵工廠 – “Osaka Army Arsenal”

What this tells us

1. Type and function
This object is associated with a light mortar. Mortars were indirect-fire weapons used by infantry to lob explosive rounds over obstacles. The “light” designation usually means it was intended to be portable and used by small units rather than heavy artillery crews.

2. “Type 49” designation
Japanese military equipment was often designated by a “Type” number tied to a calendar system. In this case, Type 49 likely refers to the Imperial calendar system, not the Western year directly. This places the design firmly in the early 20th century, before Japan standardized many later WWII-era weapons.

3. Manufacturing date
“Showa 9” corresponds to 1934 in the Western calendar. That places this item in Japan’s rapid militarization period leading up to World War II, during the era of expansion in East Asia.

4. Osaka Army Arsenal
The Osaka Army Arsenal (大阪砲兵工廠) was one of Japan’s major military manufacturing centers. It produced rifles, artillery, ammunition, and other ordnance for the Imperial Japanese Army. Items stamped from this arsenal are historically significant and commonly encountered in museum collections and battlefield relics.

5. Serial or batch number
The “No. 14” marking likely indicates a production number, batch number, or inspection number rather than a unit assignment. This would have been used for quality control or inventory tracking.

Physical appearance and condition

The heavy oxidation and patina visible on the metal suggest:

• Long-term exposure to the elements
• Significant age
• Possibly a recovered battlefield artifact, training ground remnant, or decommissioned military display piece

The metal loop visible near the bottom may have been used for handling, transport, or securing the round during storage or deployment.