This cannon is a replica of a 30-pounder Parrott Rifle, one of the most widely used siege cannons in the War Between the States. Invented by Robert P. Parrott in 1861, the 30-pounder Parrott Rifle quickly became one of the Union Army standard siege cannons.
The Siege of Fort Macon
During the siege of Fort Macon in 1862, Union forces used batteries of siege cannons to bombard the fort. One of these was a battery of three 30-pounder Parrott Rifles, commanded by Captain Lewis O. Morris, Company C, 1st U.S. Artillery. The battery was placed in position over three-fourths of a mile from the fort, along with two additional batteries of 8-inch and 10-inch siege mortars.
The Bombardment
On April 25, 1862, the three Union batteries bombarded Fort Macon for eleven hours. With their great accuracy, the Parrott Rifles were very destructive to the fort, knocking out many of the fort walls. Repeated hits by the Parrotts cracked the walls and ceiling of one of the forts gunpowder magazines. Defending Confederates had no choice but to surrender or risk being blown up by their own gunpowder in the endangered magazine. Union forces took possession of the fort the next morning.
Historic Achievement
The bombardment of Fort Macon was the second time in history that rifled siege guns were used against a fort in combat. Because rifled cannons such as the Parrott had the power to destroy brick and stone walls, forts now became obsolete as a way of military defense.
Specifications for 30-pounder Parrott Rifle
Length of Barrel 11 feet
Weight of Barrel 4200 pounds
Weight of Gun Carriage 2350 pounds
Weight of Ammunition
Bolt (Solid Shot) 30 pounds
Shell 29 pounds
Gunpowder Charge 3? pounds
Range 2.7 miles
(at 15 degrees elevation)
(sidebar)
Robert P. Parrott invented a system of rifled artillery for the Union Army during the War Between the States. "Parrott Rifles" were made in different calibers from 10-pounder to 300-pounder sea coast cannons. They are characterized by the thick iron band reinforcing the cannon breech
(captions)
(lower left) Captain Lewis O. Morris? Parrott Rifle battery bombarding Fort Macon on April 25, 1862.
(upper center) 30-pounder Parrott Rifle ammunition: Bolt, left; Shell, right.
(lower right) The damaged western wall of Fort Macon after the bombardment of April 25, 1862, showing the effects of cannon fire from the Parrott Rifle battery.
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