The M1841 Mountain Howitzer served with the United States Army in the mid-nineteenth century from 1837 to about 1870, including the Mexican-American War, the American Indian Wars, and the American Civil War. Primarily used in more rugged western theaters, it could be broken down into three loads for pack animal transport, with the tube carried on one animal, the carriage on another, and the ammunition on a third. Designed to be lightweight and highly portable while still retaining substantial power, it fired the same cannonball as the 1500 pound Napoleon and the 850 pound field howitzer cannons. Weighing only 275 pounds, it could effectively launch a 12 pound ball up to 900 yards, though most firing took place between 200 and 500 yards. Its easy disassembly and ability to travel without roads made it especially suited to Indian fighting and mountain warfare.