Early 8-Inch Confederate Columbiad at Fort Pulaski
An early 8-Inch Confederate Columbiad is displayed on the parapet at Fort Pulaski near Savannah, Georgia
An early 8-Inch Confederate Columbiad is displayed on the parapet of Fort Pulaski near Savannah, Georgia. It is the only known example of its type to survive. Both Ripley and Olmstead/Stark/Tucker note that the cannon largely resembles the “New Columbiad” of 1857/1858 except that it has a knob-type cascabel and makes use of a quoin rather than the split-button and ratchet configuration on the standard US pre-war Columbiad.
The Columbiad at Pulaski was manufactured by Joseph R. Anderson’s Tredegar Foundry in 1861. By late 1861, both Tredegar and Bellona were casting 8-Inch and 10-Inch Columbiads which resembled US Army Model 1861 “Rodman” guns in their shape. Thus, the Pulaski Columbiad seems to represent a transitional type.
The Columbiad mounted at Fort Pulaski is identified on signage as having been at the fort during its 1862 siege and capture. The muzzle of the cannon is damaged - a nearby sign implies this may be due to the piece being struck by a projectile during the bombardment of the fort.
Two 1860s photographs are of interest. One shows a US Army officer in front of what appears to be a cannon of the same model, identified by Ripley as “Columbiad, Seacoast, 8-Inch, Model 1858, (probable) Confederate” (pg. 77). The location of the fort is not identified. The other photo, taken in 1862, is captioned “Fort Pulaski, Ga. The ‘Beauregard’ gun”. This cannon resembles the 8-Inch presently at Fort Pulaski.
Early 8-Inch Confederate Columbiad at Fort Pulaski
1862 Photo taken at Fort Pulaski of “The Beauregard Gun”. Library of Congress photo: https://www.loc.gov/item/2018666873/
Civil War photo showing a US Army officer in front of a cannon which Ripley identified as being the same type as the Pulaski Columbiad. The identification of the Fort and officer pictured are unknown. Library of Congress photo: https://www.loc.gov/item/2013648720/
Early 8-Inch Confederate Columbiad - the damage to the muzzle is visible from the right side
The left trunnion shows the 1861 date. Given the political history of Virginia in 1861, it is possible that this cannon was manufactured prior to secession.
The right trunnion is marked for “Joseph Reid Anderson and Company, Tredegar Foundry”
Early 8-Inch Confederate Columbiad at Fort Pulaski
Early 8-Inch Confederate Columbiad at Fort Pulaski
