13-Inch Mortars in Phillipsburg, New Jersey
Three 13-Inch Mortars, Pattern 1861, displayed in Phillipsburg, New Jersey
Four US 13-Inch Mortars, Pattern 1861, are displayed in Phillipsburg, New Jersey. Three may be found around a monument in the town square. Another is found in the nearby St. Phillip and St. James Cemetery on Fillmore Street. All four are mounted on original iron carriages.
The mortars are:
Fort Pitt Foundry Number 9, Weight 17,290 Pounds (at the cemetery)
Fort Pitt Foundry Number 73, Weight 17,193 Pounds
Fort Pitt Foundry Number 984, Weight 17,202 Pounds
Fort Pitt Foundry Number 1030, Weight 17,201 Pounds
Number 9 was cast in 1861. The others were cast in 1862. While Number 9 and 73 represent a sequential series, number 984 and 1030 are the Fort Pitt Foundry numbers. This is an unusual way of numbering a series. This type of mortar was used by both the US Navy and US Army during the war. The 2000 edition of the registry of known surviving Civil War artillery lists Numbers 9 and 73 as US Army mortars and Numbers 984 and 1030 as Navy mortars.
Many thanks to friend of the page, James Murray, for another set of excellent photos!
