7-Inch Brooke Rifle, S-5, of CSS Tennessee in Selma, Alabama

Aug 5

7-Inch Double Banded Brooke Rifle, S-5, of CSS Tennessee in Selma, Alabama

One of CSS Tennessee’s 7-Inch Double Banded Brooke Rifles, S-5, is displayed at beside the City Hall of Selma, Alabama. This cannon was manufactured by the Selma Naval Gun Foundry in 1863. It was captured aboard CSS Tennessee during the Battle of Mobile Bay on August 5th, 1864.

All six of the Brooke Rifles carried by CSS Tennessee at the Battle of Mobile Bay Survive to the present day.

One 7-Inch Brooke Rifle, S-5, is displayed at Selma, Alabama (pictured here).
One 7-Inch Brooke Rifle, S-10, and three Tredegar Produced 6.4-Inch Brooke Rifles are at the Washington Navy Yard. See the Washington Navy Yard Brookes here.
One 6.4-Inch Brooke Rifle of CSS Tennessee is displayed at Naval Station Norfolk alongside one from CSS Albemarle.

According to the Historical Marker at Selma, S-5 served as the aft pivot gun aboard CSS Tennessee. S-5 is the third 7-Inch Rifle produced by the Selma Naval Gun Foundry. It is also the earliest surviving example of a cannon produced by Selma.

The Brooke is marked "S5" on its reinforcing bands, trunnions, rear sight base, and muzzle.

S-5 is marked with an engraving noting that it was captured aboard CSS Tennessee at the Battle of Mobile Bay.

This Brooke is mentioned in the report of commandant Naval Gun Foundry and Ordnance Works, Selma, to Admiral Buchanan regarding 7-inch gun shipped to Mobile.

NAVAL GUN FOUNDRY,

Selma, January 9, 1864.

MY DEAR ADMIRAL: Your telegram of the 4th was received too late on the 7th to ship a gun on that day, and it was not shipped until yesterday by the Southern Republic, as I telegraphed you.

The ordinary proof of the gun is to fire it once with 16 pounds of powder and cast-iron bolt, with sabot. As we have been prevented from proving it, I am requested by Commander Brooke to ask you to have it fired once with the above charge before placing it in battery. I do not know how I could better express my confidence in the gun than by saying that if I had to fight the ship I should place it where I thought it would be most fired. The gun is our first attempt. I believe it possesses all the essentials, though some of the details may be faulty. I therefore invite criticism. The guns that follow may be improved by it. I think it likely that in depressing the gun (raising the breech) the handspikes may be used to advantage in aiding the screw, as the preponderance is greater than I would prefer. The sights for this gun can not be used for another gun; they are all marked with the corresponding number of the guns (S-5). They, with the screw, will be sent down shortly.

I have another gun ready, but unless you want it immediately I will send you next week what I consider a better gun. Telegraph if you want the gun immediately. In future I hope to turn out at least one gun a month.

I have received a detail from General Maury of John Hope, Company B, First Battalion Alabama Artillery. It was dated January 1, but the man has not reported.

Have you any officers or crew yet for the Tennessee?

Yours, very truly,

CATESBY AP R. JONES.

Official Records - Navies. Ser. 1. Vol. 21. Pg. 863.