8-Inch US Navy Bureau of Ordnance Shell gun of 6,500 pounds in Burlington, Vermont

Aug 14

US Navy Bureau of Ordnance 8-Inch Shell Gun of 6,500 Pounds displayed at Battery Park in Burlington, Vermont

A US Navy Bureau of Ordnance 8-Inch Shell Gun of 6,500 Pounds may be seen at Battery Park in Burlington, Vermont. This type of cannon, along with a similar 32-pounder of 4,500 pounds, had been developed by the Bureau of Ordnance in 1864 under the direction of Henry Wise. The shape is very much like Dahlgren’s other cannon. However, the elongated cascabel with provision for an elevating screw of the larger Dahlgrens has been replaced by a simple ring cascabel for a breeching rope. As can be seen in this photo, the elevating screw is under the breech of the cannon rather than through the cascabel as in 9-Inch and 11-Inch Dahlgrens.

The example in Battery Park is the best preserved example that I have seen of the type - all of its markings are clearly visible and not obscured by paint nor by any rust besides an appealing patina on the tube and carriage. It is mounted on an original post-war Marsilly carriage for use as a broadside cannon on a ship. The cannon was manufactured by Seyfert, McManus, and Company in 1865. It is registry number 97. The cascabel is marked “264” - likely a Foundry number. The actual weight of the tube is 6,394 pounds. The carriage is marked as weighing 815 pounds.

The cannon is mounted near an overlook of Lake Champlain and by a historical marker which reads: “Here in June 1813, a Vermonter, Lieut. Churchill, and men built a parapet and set up a battery. On Aug. 3 a British gunboat and 2 sloops, 1½ miles offshore, began a cannonade. This attack was repulsed in 20 minutes by the American Battery and by 2 of Commodore Macdonough's armed scows.” As can be seen in the photos, it was raining on the day of my visit, but the overlook was still beautiful.