GDG- Pumpkin use during the Civil War

[James Cameron]

<< The term "pumpkin slinger" has been applied to the US Model 1842 (.69
caliber smoothbore) musket. Was it a period term?  >>

I've seen it before.  As I recall, though, it may actually have been with 
reference to some of the even bigger and more cumbersome .72 caliber 
smoothbores imported from Europe early on in the war, which made the U.S. 
jobs look trim and handy by comparison.

Jim Cameron