30-Pounder US Army Parrott Rifles at Fort Pulaski

Oct 29

US Army 30-Pounder Parrott Number 335 displayed outside Fort Pulaski near Savannah, Georgia.

The United States Army used rifle cannon to breech the walls of Fort Pulaski during the brief siege of April 10-11th, 1862. Though it was actually the three James Rifles which turned out to be most accurate and most effective in this battle, five 30-Pounder Parrott Rifles were also used against the fort - being manned in part by a contingent of US Navy sailors from USS Wabash (Battle for Fort Pulaski, NPS).

On my visit to Fort Pulaski, I saw three original US Army 30-Pounder (or 4.2-Inch) Parrott Rifles and a modern reproduction 30-Pounder.

One of the three originals was present for the Battle. The interpretive sign beside it states that “On April 10, 1862 German Volunteers of the 46th N.Y. Regiment manned this gun. On that date the guns bore down on Fort Pulaski from one of eleven Federal Batteries located on Tybee and MeQueens Islands.” The Parrott was moved after the battle to Cockspur Island for the duration of the war. In the 1960s this Parrott and one other were found near the north pier. This Parrott was manufactured in 1861 according the Registry in The Big Guns. I was not able to decipher any markings on the tube.

The other two original 30-Pounder Parrott Rifles at Fort Pulaski are:

30-Pounder Parrott: Registry Number 333. Weight as manufactured: 4,200 pounds. Manufactured at West Point Foundry in 1864. Displayed upon the parapet of the fort.
30-Pounder Parrott: Registry Number 335. Weight as manufactured 4,190 pounds. Manufactured at West Point Foundry in 1864. Displayed outside the fort near the Visitors Center.

The reproduction Parrott Rifle is displayed upon the parade ground where it is used for firing demonstrations. (YouTube Video).

All of the 30-Pounder Parrotts displayed at Fort Pulaski are mounted on reproduction Siege and Garrison Carriages. (The Siege and Garrison Carriage is visually similar to the Field Carriages used to mount guns such as 12-Pounder Napoleons and 10-Pounder Parrotts. However, the Siege and Garrison Carriage is far larger and heavier than the Field Carriage.)

The US Army Model of the 30-Pounder Parrott Rifle is generally about 26 inches longer 700 pounds heavier than the US Navy Model. By comparison to the Navy model, the Army model looks quite long.

While the US Army model was typically used on land and the US Navy Model of the 30-Pounder was usually afloat, instances can be shown of the reverse happening. Included below is a photograph of an apparent US Army Model 30-Pounder mounted on a two-wheel naval carriage aboard US Army Transport Fulton.