The Guns of USS Kearsarge in 1894
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The Guns of USS Kearsarge in 1894

When the USS Kearsarge grounded and sank on February 2nd, 1894 she was carrying two 8-Inch Muzzle Loading Rifles, four 9-Inch Dahlgrens, and one 5.3-Inch Breech Loading Rifle. This post looks at historic photos of USS Kearsarge, photos of preserved cannons similar to those lost aboard the ship, and photos that may show the current disposition of the cannons at Kearsarge’s wreck site.

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The 9-Inch Dahlgren and 8-Inch Rodman at Fort Sill
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The 9-Inch Dahlgren and 8-Inch Rodman at Fort Sill

The US Army Artillery Museum at Fort Sill offers the unique opportunity to directly compare an 8-Inch Rodman to an 9-Inch Dahlgren. In presenting these two cannon side by side, the visitor to the museum is able to see the approach of both the US Navy and the US Army to produce shell guns capable of also firing solid shot. The Photos in this post were taken by Flickr User “rcaustintx” in 2019. They are used with his permission. Many, many thanks!

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The Naval Cannons of Fort McClary, Maine
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The Naval Cannons of Fort McClary, Maine

Three US Navy cannons are displayed at Fort McClary near Kittery, Maine: a 9-Inch Dahlgren Shell Gun, a Bureau of Ordnance 8-Inch Shell Gun of 6,500 Pounds, and a 32-Pounder of 57 Hundredweight. Fort McClary shows several stages of US Army seacoast fortifications and is beautifully situated overlooking Portsmouth Harbor.

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The 9-Inch Dahlgrens of Rollinsford, New Hampshire
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The 9-Inch Dahlgrens of Rollinsford, New Hampshire

Two 9-Inch Dahlgrens are displayed in Rollinsford, New Hampshire in front of a monument to local Union veterans. One of the cannons may be the only surviving 9-Inch Dahlgren manufactured by Bellona - in 1858. The Bellona Dahlgren is mounted on an original iron Marsilly carriage. The two cannons and their mounts are well maintained and nicely displayed.

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The Dahlgrens of the Washington Navy Yard
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The Dahlgrens of the Washington Navy Yard

Dahlgren’s shell gun and boat howitzer designs formed the core of US Naval armament during the American Civil War. It is fitting that three of his designs are displayed at the Washington Navy Yard: a 9-Inch Dahlgren Shell Gun, a 12-Pounder Boat Howitzer, and a 20-Pounder Bronze Rifle.

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The Naval Guns of Old Fort Jackson
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The Naval Guns of Old Fort Jackson

Old Fort Jackson near Savannah, Georgia displays several cannon which were manufactured for and used by the US Navy in the years before the American Civil War.

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The Cannons of Trophy Park
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The Cannons of Trophy Park

Norfolk Navy Yard Trophy Park in Portsmouth, Virginia displays a number of Dahlgrens and Parrott Rifles from the mid 19th Century US Navy. Some are displayed as they were manufactured. Others received modifications and conversions in the 1870s. Many thanks to Flickr user Jimmy for the permission to use these photos.

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9-Inch Dahlgrens of the Mariners’ Museum
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9-Inch Dahlgrens of the Mariners’ Museum

Two 9-Inch Dahlgren guns are on display at the Mariners’ Museum in Newport News, Virginia. One was aboard CSS Virginia in her battle with USS Cumberland. The other served aboard USS Richmond.

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The Guns of CSS Peedee
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The Guns of CSS Peedee

Three cannon recovered from the wreck of CSS Peedee (including a Dahlgren which saw service on USS Southfield) are on display at the Florence County Veterans Center in Florence, SC.

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