Sunday Aboard USS Richmond in 1890
A set of six photos taken aboard USS Richmond on a Sunday - likely in 1890 - show a wealth of details about the Old Steam US Navy. The high resolution photos show facial expressions, equipment, arms, and more aboard a ship little changed since its service in the American Civil War.
The 9-Inch Dahlgrens of Webster, New York
Two 9-Inch Dahlgren cannons are displayed at Webster Rural Cemetery in Webster, New York. These two Dahlgrens are displayed on concrete recreations of the wooden carriages that they would have had in service aboard US Navy warships during the American Civil War. Both cannons were originally part of a shipment sent to Sackets Harbor.
The 9-Inch Dahlgren of Sackets Harbor
A US Navy 9-Inch Dahlgren is displayed alongside a 30-Pounder Parrott Rifle at Sackets Harbor Battlefield State Historic Site in Sackets Harbor, New York. Originally part of twenty such cannons sent to Sackets Harbor, the reason that these cannons were sent in 1864 remains a bit of a mystery. Sackets Harbor is a beautiful and historic site on Lake Ontario.
The Cannons at Fort Fisher
The Second Battle of Fort Fisher was fought from January 13th - 15th, 1865. This post gives an overview of the major types of heavy cannons present in the fort and aboard the fleet. The cannons pictured include Columbiads, Brooke Rifles, Dahlgren Cannons, and Parrott Rifles.
BuOrd 32-Pounders of 4,500 Pounds in Townsend, Massachusetts
Two US Navy Bureau of Ordnance 32-Pounders of 4,500 Pounds are displayed in front of Memorial Hall in Townsend, Massachusetts. Notably, one of the cannons still has a firing hammer attached on the lug at the breech.
Heavy Artillery of the Confederacy in the American Civil War
This post is an overview of the major types and systems of heavy naval and seacoast artillery operated by the Confederate Army and Confederate Navy during the American Civil War. The principle types used were: Pre-War US Army cannons and Columbiads, Pre-War US Navy cannons and Dahlgren guns, Confederate Columbiads, Brooke Rifles and Smoothbores, banded and rifled cannons, and British rifles.
The 9-Inch Dahlgren of USS Minnesota and USS Richmond in New Hope, Pennsylvania
A 9-Inch Dahlgren which served aboard USS Minnesota and USS Richmond is preserved in New Hope, Pennsylvania.
The 9-Inch Dahlgren of USS Colorado on Staten Island
A US Navy 9-Inch Dahlgren Cannon is displayed at Historic Richmond Town on Staten Island in New York. This gun was manufactured at Tredegar Foundry in 1857 and saw service aboard USS Colorado.
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.
The 8-Inch Muzzle Loading Rifle of USS Richmond in Lambertville, New Jersey
A US Navy 8-Inch Muzzle Loading Rifle which served in the 1870s and 1880s aboard the famous Civil War ship USS Richmond is displayed in front of a Civil War Memorial at Mary E. Sheridan Park in Lambertville, New Jersey. The cannon was converted from an 11-Inch Dahlgren in 1877. (The cannon had been originally cast in 1863.)
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!
Bureau of Ordnance 32-Pounder of 4,500 Pounds in Keene, New Hampshire
Two United States Navy 32-Pounders of 4,500 Pounds are displayed in Keene, New Hampshire on either side of the Civil War Monument in Central Square.
“The Converted Eight Inch Muzzle Loading Rifle” by Lieutenant Duncan Kennedy, U.S.N.
An 1877 article in Proceedings by Lt. Duncan Kennedy describes the process by which 8-Inch Rifles were converted from 11-Inch Dahlgren Smoothbores. The text of that article as well as historical and recent photographs of Dahlgren cannons are given to illustrate the article.
The US Navy Cannons of Townsend Park in Oyster Bay, New York
Three American Civil War era United States Navy cannons sit surrounding a bandstand in Townsend Park in Oyster Bay, York. The three cannons are a rare 50-Pounder Dahlgren Rifle, a 5.3-Inch Parrott Rifle converted to a breechloader, and a 30-Pounder Parrott Rifle which saw service aboard USS R.R. Cuyler during the American Civil War. These photos were provided by another individual and are used with permission.
The Dahlgren Boat Howitzers of Hanover, Massachusetts
Two US Navy 12-Pounder Bronze Dahlgren Boat Howitzers are displayed in Hanover, Massachusetts flanking an 1878 Monument "Erected by the people of Hanover in grateful memory of her sons who died in the War for the Preservation of the Union."
The Manufacture of US Navy 8-Inch Muzzle Loading Rifles from 11-Inch Dahlgren Shell Guns
An excerpt from Augustus Paul Cooke's A Text Book of Naval Ordnance and Gunnery Prepared for the Use of Cadet Midshipmen of the United States Naval Academy describes the manufacture of 8-Inch Muzzle Loading Rifles from existing 11-Inch Dahlgren Smoothbore Shell Guns. The post includes cutaway illustrations from the book and photographs from preserved Dahlgren cannons.
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.
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.
The Cannons of Denver’s City Park
Three Civil War era cannons have been displayed near the Pavilion at City Park in Denver, Colorado since 1897. They are an 11-Inch Dahlgren, a 6.4-Inch Parrott Rifle, and a 13-Inch Mortar. They surround a statue of Robert Burns.
The Claremont, New Hampshire Soldiers’ Memorial
Two US Navy Bureau of Ordnance 32-Pounders of 4,500 Pounds are displayed at Broad Street Park in Claremont, New Hampshire alongside a statue memorializing war dead which was placed in 1869 (though the cannons were likely placed between 1890 and 1910). This post includes a list of the soldiers memorialized and their service.