8-Inch Columbiad, Model 1857, at Fort Moultrie
8-Inch Columbiad, Model 1857, Banded and Rifled, on display at Fort Moultrie near Charleston, South Carolina.
An 8-Inch Columbiad which was rifled and banded by the Confederates during the American Civil War may be seen preserved at Fort Moultrie near Charleston, South Carolina. This Columbiad was cast at the West Point Foundry in 1857. It is marked as (before banding) weighing 8,975 pounds. According to Mike Ryan’s excellent paper “The Historic Guns for Forts Sumter and Moultrie” it is marked with RPP and WPF (Robert Parker Parrott and West Point Foundry) on the right trunnion. It is mounted in a wooden reproduction center-pintle barbette carriage - which obscures the trunnion faces.
Sources differ on what to call this cannon. The Big Guns refers to the type as “8-Inch New Columbiad Gun, Pattern 1857.” In Artillery and Ammunition of the Civil War Warren Ripley refers to the type as “8-Inch Columbiad, Model 1858”. Mike Ryan’s paper refers to the piece as an “8-Inch Columbiad, Model 1844 New Pattern”. Ryan also implies that this piece may have been cast with Rodman’s hollow casting technique.
Whatever it should be called (and I am using “8-Inch Columbiad, Model 1857”, likely pleasing no one), this type is rare. The only other known example of the type is on a monument in front of the Gage Country Courthouse in Beatrice, Nebraska. An single example of a related type, cast by Tredegar, may be found at Fort Pulaski.
The Fort Moultrie piece has been given 8x8, hook-slant rifling similar to a Brooke Rifle. Ryan believes this piece to have been present in the Charleston area at the time of the 1861 Battle of Fort Sumter. Library of Congress photos from 1860 and 1861 show 8-Inch Columbiads present at Fort Moultrie. I suppose there is a chance the Fort Moultrie Columbiad is pictured in these photos.
The piece has received a double banding similar to the 10-Inch Columbiad, Model 1844, at Fort Sumter. At some point the piece lost the split button cascabel.
This piece is one of several banded and rifled cannon preserved in the area. Ryan provides the following evaluation such conversions: “These rifles were viewed by Southerners as merely a compromise. They were valuable when used at moderate ranges and with minimal charges, but they were certainly not as strong or as durable as the Brooke rifles. Clearly the conversion of any smooth bore carried risks. Not only was the weight of the projectile roughly doubled by the conversion, but the windage greatly reduced as well. The resulting strain made it imperative that wrought iron banding be added over the breech. Some converted smoothbores were not banded, but they were never held in high regard by their crews and were wisely used with great caution” (“The Historic Guns of Forts Sumter and Moultrie” page 29).
Library of Congress Photo: https://www.loc.gov/item/2015645330/
Ripley captions this photo: “Columbiad, Seacoast, 8-Inch, Model of 1858, Iron. Remarks: Fort Moultrie in April, 1861, 32-Pounders at rear.”
Columbiads at Fort Moultrie in 1861. Library of Congress Photo: https://www.loc.gov/item/2015645334/
The rifling of the Columbiad is visible here. (Note: this photo has been digitally altered to remove a person from the photo.)
The ratchet elevation gear used on Columbiads can be seen in this photo.
The individual hoops of the banding can be seen in this photo.
The platform and barbette carriage lift the cannon above the barbette while providing some cover for the crew.
The two bands can clearly be seen here.
The Columbiad looks out at Fort Sumter in the distance. (The fort is obscured by the palmetto tree.)
The muzzle swell as viewed from below.
As displayed at Fort Moultrie, the 8-Inch Columbiad is mounted next to a 10-Inch Confederate Columbiad.
