The Cannons of Freeport: The Trubia Rifle and Hartford’s Parrott
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The Cannons of Freeport: The Trubia Rifle and Hartford’s Parrott

Two 19th Century muzzle-loading rifled cannon sit about a half-mile apart on Long Island in Freeport, New York. One is an 8-Inch Muzzle Loading Rifle made at Trubia, Spain in 1874 and captured in the Spanish American War. The other is a US Navy 30-Pounder Parrott Rifle which served aboard USS Hartford during the American Civil War.

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Fort Fisher has Reopened!
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Fort Fisher has Reopened!

Fort Fisher State Historic Site has reopened! The newly constructed visitors center and museum is magnificent. The fort itself has two newly reconstructed gun emplacements “armed” with replica banded and rifled 32-Pounders and two field pieces in front of the fort. It was a beautiful day for a visit. More posts will follow in the future which will try to tell something of the history of the fort and its people, but here are a few photos.

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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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30-Pounder US Army Parrott Rifles at Fort Pulaski
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30-Pounder US Army Parrott Rifles at Fort Pulaski

US Army 30-Pounder Parrott Rifles were successfully used in the Siege of Fort Pulaski in April of 1862. Several 30-Pounder Parrott Rifles (also called 4.2-Inch Parrotts) are displayed at the Fort. The US Army Model is both longer and heavier than the Navy 30-Pounder.

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30-Pounder Parrott in Cincinnati, Ohio
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30-Pounder Parrott in Cincinnati, Ohio

A 30-Pounder Parrott mounted on a reproduction Marsilly style carriage is displayed at Washington Park in Cincinnati, Ohio. This Parrott seems to have a late-production extension to its breeching block for connection to an elevating screw. Many thanks to Ferd454231 for the photos of this Parrott!

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The US Navy Cannons of Townsend Park in Oyster Bay, New York
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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.

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The Dahlgren Boat Howitzers of Hanover, Massachusetts
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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."

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The Manufacture of US Navy 8-Inch Muzzle Loading Rifles from 11-Inch Dahlgren Shell Guns
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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.

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20-Inch Rodman of Fort Hamilton, New York
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20-Inch Rodman of Fort Hamilton, New York

A 20-Inch Rodman Gun is displayed at Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn, New York. This type was the largest cannon manufactured by the United States during the American Civil War. These photos were provided by another individual and are used with permission.

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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 Cannons of Denver’s City Park
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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.

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The Claremont, New Hampshire Soldiers’ Memorial
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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.

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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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32-Pounder Rifle of CSS Teaser - Then and Now
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32-Pounder Rifle of CSS Teaser - Then and Now

A 32-Pounder of 57 Hundredweight which was banded and rifled by the Confederates is preserved as a trophy at the Washington Navy Yard. This cannon was captured aboard the converted tug boat CSS Teaser. The cannon was photographed after CSS Teaser's capture - allowing a "then and now" look at the cannon as well as the cannon's carriage, sights, and other accessories.

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