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.
The Dahlgren Guns of the United States Naval Academy
Among the historic cannons preserved at the United States Naval Academy are a Dahlgren Rifle and a 12-Pounder Dahlgren Boat Howitzer. This post also looks at a Civil War era photo of heavy cannons at Annapolis.
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.
The Dahlgren Boat Howitzers of Webster, Massachusetts
Three US Navy Dahlgren Boat Howitzers are displayed at the Town Hall of Webster Massachusetts. One is a Rifled 12-Pounder Boat Howitzer. Two are smoothbore 12-Pounder Boat Howitzers.
32-Pounders of 4,500 Pounds in Peterborough, New Hampshire
Two US Navy Bureau of Ordnance 32-Pounders of 4,500 Pounds are displayed outside the old Grand Army of the Republic Hall (now Post and Beam Brewing) in Peterborough, New Hampshire.
The Naval Cannons of Exeter, New Hampshire
Four US Navy Cannons are displayed in Exeter, New Hampshire: an 11-Inch Dahlgren, a 32-Pounder of 57 Hundredweight, and two 32-Pounders of 4,500 Pounds
The 9-Inch Dahlgrens of USS Hartford at Trinity College
Two 9-Inch Dahlgren cannons which were carried by USS Hartford are displayed on Marsilly carriages at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut.
The Bureau of Ordnance 32-Pounders at Stark Park
Four US Navy Bureau of Ordnance 32-Pounders of 4,500 Pounds are displayed at Stark Park in Manchester, New Hampshire.
8-Inch US Navy Bureau of Ordnance Shell gun of 6,500 pounds in Burlington, Vermont
A US Navy Bureau of Ordnance 8-Inch Shell Gun of 6,500 Pounds is displayed at Battery Park in Burlington, Vermont overlooking Lake Champlain.
The 9-Inch Dahlgrens of the American Swedish Historical Museum
Two 9-Inch Dahlgren cannons are displayed in front of the American Swedish Historical Museum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
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.