3-Inch Ordnance Rifle at Fort Monroe

Jul 8

3-Inch Ordnance Rifle made in 1863 by the Phoenix Iron Works at Fort Monroe

A US Army 3-Inch Ordnance Rifle made in 1863 by the Phoenix Iron Works is on display at Fort Monroe in Virginia. Though this is a field artillery piece, field artillery played a role in supporting seacoast fortifications from land attack.

Field artillery is not really my area - as much as I can claim any area - but I know that the 3-Inch Ordnance Rifle was well regarded by artillerymen on both sides as a reliable and accurate gun. It was made of wrought iron (rather than being a cast iron tube with wrought iron reinforcing band like the Parrott). It was far less prone to burst than the cast iron rifles.

On my visit to the fort, which is home to the Lincoln Gun as well as a few other artillery pieces, I was intrigued that the historic housing of the fort is in use by civilians. Since the fort, which was built just after the War of 1812, closed as an active Army base in 2011, it has been redeveloped for civilian purposes. This has involved leasing housing within the fort to regular folks. It was just a bit bizarre to drive on a bridge across the moat through the sally-port which had been designed for a large wagon to pass through and into the huge old stone fort and find a neighborhood. As I was walking around, I noticed local teenagers playing on top of the fort's walls. I grew up in the Charleston, South Carolina area, and I got to play in and around Fort Moultrie a bit, and this would be a lot like having a house inside (a giant) Fort Moultrie and just having the run of the fort 24/7. As a kid I would have absolutely loved it. As a parent, I think I would worry that my kids would fall off the walls and into the moat or onto the rocks... but I know the kids are probably having a great time.