A 12-Pounder (2.75-Inch) Whitworth Breech Loading Rifle is displayed just inside the main entrance of the new Visitors Center at Fort Fisher near Wilmington, North Carolina.

A 12-Pounder (2.75-Inch) Whitworth Breech Loading Rifle is displayed just inside the main entrance of the new Visitors Center at Fort Fisher State Historic Site in Kure Beach near Wilmington, North Carolina. The cannon, mounted on a reproduction carriage, bears a large engraving on its breech which reads “Whitworth Breech Loading Gun. Captured by R. Admiral Lee near Fort Fisher, N.C. Aug. 23. 1863.”

The Whitworth was one of four such guns in the cargo of the steamer Modern Greece which wrecked in June of 1862 while attempting to run the blockade into Wilmington. Salvaged by the troops at Fort Fisher under the Command of Colonel William Lamb, the four Whitworth guns immediately caused the blockading US Navy warships to keep station significantly farther off shore to account for the 10,000 yard maximum range of the guns. Colonel Lamb credited the four Whitworths with saving many blockade running ships as they forced US Navy ships to keep a bit more distant. Initially split into two two-gun “Flying Batteries”, the Whitworths could be deployed anywhere along the miles of beaches to the north of Fort Fisher off of which blockade runners made their approach to the “new inlet” into the Cape Fear River. The elimination of these British Rifles became an objective for the US Navy as it sought to maintain an effective blockade on Wilmington, and by August of 1863, only one Whitworth remained in operation. (Information from a sign displayed at the “old” Fort Fisher Visitors center - pictured below.)

Ripley gives the markings on both trunnions as “Whitworth Ordnance Co., Manchester, No. 46, Patent 1861.” Whitworth used a hexagonal rifling for his cannons, and the barrel was “made of steel, carefully annealed to increase its ability to withstand pressure. Instead of shrinking on bands, Sir Joseph [Whitworth] tapered the barrel very slightly and forced the band on cold by hydrostatic pressure using great care and accuracy.” (Ripley, pg. 142).

The Blockade Runner S.S. Hebe

At 4:45am on the morning of Tuesday, August 18th, 1863 the crew of USS Niphon, on station some four miles east of Fort Fisher, made out a steamer burning black smoke about five miles to their north. Niphon raced to block the ship’s entrance into the Cape Fear River.

Aboard the blockade runner S.S. Hebe, which had hoped to run safely past the blockading squadron at first light and in the difficult conditions of a gale, the crew must have been galled to see USS Niphon cutting off their approach. As blockade runners often would when in imminent danger of being captured, Hebe’s crew turned their ship about, ran north for a ways, and then - at full power - beached their ship near Masonboro inlet.

As the blockade runner’s crew escaped their ship in boats, the commander of USS Niphon, Acting Ensign J.B. Breck, ordered his Executive Officer, Acting Ensign W.W. Crowninshield to lead a party in one of Niphon’s boats to take and burn Hebe, the weather being too rough to attempt to haul her away. The boarding party found that the Hebe’s engine was still turning, but her engine’s feed water had nearly run dry. As the sailors began to gather combustibles aboard the ship to set afire, the boat which had brought Ensign Crowninshield and his team alongside Hebe was swamped in the heavy surf, and two other boats sent to rescue to party aboard Hebe were swamped or driven ashore in the heavy weather (Official Navy Records, Series I, Vol. 9, pp. 166-167).

By this time Confederate cavalry had arrived on the scene. They captured the US Navy boat crews who were ashore and began to take the boarding party aboard Hebe under small arms fire. Eventually, the Confederates also brought up their “Flying Battery” of the 12-Pounder Whitworth and a 4-Inch Blakely Rifle which engaged USS Niphon and another blockader, USS Shokokon. Shokokon was a double-ended side-wheeler under the command of Lieutenant W.B. Cushing (who would later destroy CSS Albemarle). The two blockading vessels, USS Niphon (one 20-Pounder Parrott, four 32-Pounders of 42cwt, and two 12-Pounder rifles) and USS Shokokon (two 30-Pounder Parrott Rifles and four 24-Pounders), traded fire with the two rifled guns of the Confederate Flying Battery and the small arms of Confederate troopers while the US Navy sailors still aboard Hebe attempted to reach one of Shokokon’s boats. A handful of the Federal sailors aboard Hebe managed to swim toward Shokokon’s boat and rescue, but others were forced to wade ashore into captivity - including Ensign Crowninshield. With Hebe now abandoned, Shokokon and Niphon opened fire on the wrecked vessel with the intent to completely destroy her. Niphon’s commander, J.B. Breck observed that he saw men who had been killed lying on the beach, and he was not able to tell whether these men were his own sailors or Confederate troops.

Lieutenant Cushing stated in his report: “we commenced a heavy fire that soon riddled [Hebe]. Twice she was on fire from our shells, and twice the sea extinguished the flames, but just after a shell exploded abaft the smokestack her decks blazed up and continued to burn until she was a wreck. Our fire was kept up at from 100 to 300 yards’ range. The rebel artillery was used against us about four hours, but all their shell passed over us and did no injury. The vessel was somewhat marked by musket bullets” (Official Navy Records, Series I, Vol. 9, pg. 169).

Even though Cushing makes light of the damage inflicted by the Confederate battery and the accuracy of their gunners, the Whitworth or Blakely would have been quite capable of placing a shot into Shokokon’s machinery. In the action which followed on August 23rd, USS James Adger was struck by three projectiles from the rifles, all of which were able to pass through the side of the ship and cause significant damage within the ship - though nothing was hit which disabled Adger. On the 18th, with the gale blowing from the northeast, if the blockader’s machinery been disabled, the ship would quickly have been driven upon the lee shore. Cushing kept his ship in range of the Confederate guns while he sought to destroy Hebe, but when Hebe was set ablaze, it was time to withdraw. The ship had been largely destroyed, but the Confederate defenders had captured the majority of the crews of three boats and could claim to have driven off two US Navy warships.

In the following days after the fires burned out, Confederate work parties, under the protection of the two English rifled cannons, began attempting to salvage what they could from the hulk of the blockade runner. USS NIphon approached again on August 20th and observed a large number of people working around the wreck.

Diorama of the action of August 23rd, 1863 displayed in the old Fort Fisher Visitors Center (March 2024). The Whitworth is shown being loaded as the first of USS Minnesota’s shells explode upon the beach. The wreck of Hebe can be seen just behind the officer to the left of the cannon.

On Sunday, August 23rd, Rear Admiral Samuel Phillips Lee, Commander of the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron, ordered an attack upon the Confederate salvage efforts and their Flying Battery.

Following that attack, Commander N.B. Harrison made the following report aboard “U.S. Flagship Minnesota” about the role of USS Minnesota during the action:

“Sir, this morning, in obedience to your order, I steamed toward the wreck of the Hebe, lying on the beach about halfway between For Fisher and Masonboro Inlet. The Niphon and James Adger were sent ahead to report soundings and cut off the retreat of the enemy by the beach to Fort Fisher, and enfilade him if he remained. This ship was brought within 600 yards of the wreck, when a two-gun rifled battery was discovered behind the sand hill just back of and near to the wreck. Several shots from this battery passed over between our masts, and one struck under the sill of No. 9 port, cutting two planks halfway through.

At 8:30, having got the range, while waiting for the Adger’s recalled boat to get out of the line of fire, opened on the battery with 5-second shell, beginning with the forward gun and firing in succession aft. The practice was good and soon caused the enemy to cease firing and to abandon his guns, as was ascertained by boat sent from this ship in charge of Acting Master Coop.

The Hebe being full of water, we opened a deliberate fire for the purpose of destroying her boilers and machinery. At 10:30 sent the launch and four cutters, in charge of Fleet Captain Crosby, on shore to bring off the guns. At 2:30 the boats returned, having accomplished the purpose. Chief Engineer Garvin could not ascertain the condition of the Hebe’s boilers and machinery, owing to the quantity of water in the vessel.

Enclosed herewith I send a report of ammunition expended from the gunner.

I am, respectfully,

N.B. Harrison, Commander.” (Official Navy Records, Series I, Vol. 9, pg. 170).

USS Minnesota in the 1860s — USS Minnesota - likely photographed in the 1860s. Naval History and Heritage Command Photo: https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/our-collections/photography/numerical-list-of-images/nhhc-series/nh-series/NH-46000/NH-46014.html

USS Minnesota’s Gunner, Charles W. Homer, gave the following report:

“Sir: I respectfully submit the following report of ammunition expended on board this ship while engaged with rebel battery and destroying the wreck of the Hebe:

Fourteen XI-Inch shell, loaded and fuzed, 5-second; 111 IX-Inch shell, loaded and fuzed, 5-second; 21 IX-Inch shell, loaded and fuzed, 10-second; 3 150-Pounder shell, loaded and fuzed, percussion; 10 150-Pounder shell, loaded and fuzed, 5-second, 6 100-Pounder shell, loaded and fuzed, 5-second; 3 XI-Inch shot; 1 150-Pounder, 3 100-Pounders; 1,977 pounds of cannon powder.

Very respectfully, etc, Charles W. Homer, Gunner. (Official Navy Records, Series I, Vol. 9, pg. 170).

The Gunner’s quite technical report underlines the sheer volume of firepower a US Navy Heavy Steam Frigate could bring to bear. The battery of USS Minnesota as of July 1st, 1863 is listed as one 150-Pounder Parrott Rifle, one 11-Inch Dahlgren, four 100-Pounder Parrott Rifles, and thirty-eight 9-Inch Dahlgrens (Official Records.) Even though only half the broadside guns could bear on a target at once, to the soldiers on shore, it must have been terrifying to be on the receiving end of such a bombardment.

Fleet Captain Peirce Crosby, who had been sent in boats to capture the two rifled cannons, gave the following report:

“Sir, In obedience to your order of the 23rd I landed with the boats from this ship and brought off the battery, consisting of two guns, used against us by the rebels near the wreck of the blockade runner Hebe, they having been abandoned and the enemy driven off by the fire of our guns.

The following is a description of the guns, ammunition, and articles belonging to them which we brought on board, viz:

One Whitworth rifled gun, 3-Inch caliber; extreme length, 8 feet, 10 inches; length of bore, 8 feet 4 inches, and marked with “Whitworth Ordnance Co., No. 46, Patent 1861, Manchester.” One field carriage for the same, marked “No. 220;” 1 caisson for the same; 1 limber for the same; 3 ammunition boxes for the same; 24 shot for the same; 8 shell; 3 sights; 35 charges for the Whitworth gun; 1 extractor for the same. One rifled gun, 4-inch caliber, extreme length, 6 feet 11 inches, length of bore, 5 feet 5 inches, marked “Fawcett, Preston & Co., Liverpool, 1862.” One field carriage for the same; 1 sight for the same; 18 shell for the same.

There was a quantity of rubbish on the beach, such as an old sail, rope, and two boats badly stove, which I have burned up; also some three or four bales containing cloth and blankets, and about three bales of the same which had been broken open and scattered on the beach prior to our landing, all of which had been damaged by fire, water, and dirt.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Peirce Crosby, Fleet Captain”

(Official Navy Records, Series I, Vol. 9, pg. 171).

The 4-Inch Blakely Rifle Manufactured by Fawcett, Preston & Co. displayed in Raleigh, North Carolina (Author’s photo, 2020) — The 4-Inch Blakely Rifle Manufactured by Fawcett, Preston & Co. which was captured along with the Whitworth. It is displayed in Raleigh, North Carolina (Author’s photo, 2020) Post about the 4-Inch Blakely (or 4-Inch Fawcett-Preston) Rifle.

Regarding the loss of the two cannons, Confederate Major General W.H.C. Whiting wrote:

“Yesterday the enemy took a fancy to destroy what remained of the wreck of the Hebe, a Crenshaw steamer run ashore some days ago, and from which a company of the garrison of Fort Fisher were engaged in saving property. The steam frigate Minnesota and fire other gunboats approached the beach, and, under a terrific fire, attempted to land, but were gallantly repulsed by Captain Munn, with a Whitworth and two small rifle guns of short range. The site was about 9 miles from Fisher, on the narrow and low beach between the Sounds and the ocean, and completely under the fire of the enormous batteries of the enemy. A portion of the squadron, steaming father up the beach, effected a landing some 2 miles off in largely superior force, and came down upon Captain Munn, still gallantly fighting his little guns against the Minnesota, they being moved by hand, and, having fired his last round, the Whitworths disabled, 1 gunner killed, lieutenant and 4 men wounded, Captain Mun, with his small party, was compelled to fall back, under a heavy enfilade fire, toward Fort Fisher, with the loss of his guns.” (Official Records. Vol. 29, Part 2, pg. 670.)

Before the Confederate gunners abandoned the Whitworth, they removed the handle to the breechblock in order to temporarily disable the piece. As can be seen in the photos, this handle was never replaced.

In addition to the accounts from the Official Records cited above and the interpretive sign pictured below, Warren Ripley’s Artillery and Ammunition of the Civil War offers a well written account of the Whitworth and shows a photo just after the cannon was moved from the Washington Navy Yard - from which it is still on loan. In that photo the Whitworth is mounted on what remains of its original carriage (Ripley, pp. 143-146).

The details of the stories and reports above - Acting Ensigns commanding ships in the greatly expanded US Navy, the dash and drama of the blockade runners, cavalry and horse artillery fighting heavy frigates, the dead lying in the sand, fuse settings for shore bombardments, and men struggling against the sea just as much as against each other - tell one small part of a hard fought and terrible war.

This Whitworth Rifle was a witness to all that happened above, and for a century it was held as a trophy at the Washington Navy Yard - from which it is still on loan. It is a single light rifle mounted on a field carriage, but it was an asset which shaped how the US Navy conducted its blockade, and its capture made the blockade more effective. It is a witness to the bravery of both the artillery teams who hurried it along the beaches north of Fort Fisher and the sailors of the US Navy who braved the wild surf in their boats or stood to their guns off the unforgiving and aptly named lee shore of the Cape Fear.

Fort Fisher State Historic Site will host a Commemoriation of the 160th Anniversary of the Second Battle of Fort Fisher on Saturday, January 18th, 2025. See Fort Fisher’s Facebook page for more information: https://www.facebook.com/fortfishershs