8-Inch US Navy Bureau of Ordnance Shellgun of 6,500 pounds near Yorktown, Virginia

Jul 3

An 8-Inch US Navy Bureau of Ordnance Shellgun of 6,500 pounds (sometimes called an “8-Inch Dahlgren” or a “Model 1864 8-Inch”) is displayed by the side of the road near Historic Endview Plantation near Yorktown, Virginia. 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 However, the elongated cascabel with provision for an elevating screw of the larger Dahlgrens has been replaced by a simple ring cascabel for a breeching rope. Elevation on the 8-inch and 32-pounder would have to be by quoin.

A single photograph of this particular cannon appeared in the Facebook Group “Big Cannon Project” without further identification. There was some discussion among those commenting about its type and caliber and even whether it was a real cannon or a concrete substitute. I was confused by what appeared to be long trunnions (like the 9-Inch Dahlgren has). It is quite real, though heavily pitted. The trunnions have been visually extended by wooden blocks placed over the presumably short trunnions. The bore measures 8 inches. In order to settle any discussion that the piece might be concrete, I briefly attached a magnet to it. The stamping on the breech shows it to weigh 6,456 pounds. A “B” - presumably for “Builders Foundry” can be seen on the other side of the breech.

Though I did not see the registry number on it, I suspect that this piece is that reported in the appendix of “The Big Guns” as #341 cast in 1867 and at the time of the compilation of that edition of the registry in private hands in Virginia Beach.