7-Inch Double Banded Brooke Rifle S111 at the National Civil War Naval Museum
7-Inch Double Banded Brooke Rifle, S111, is displayed overlooking the Chattahoochee River in Columbus, Georgia
7-Inch Double Banded Brooke Rifle, S111, is displayed overlooking the Chattahoochee River at the National Civil War Naval Museum. S111 is regularly used for firing demonstrations, and it is likely the heaviest original Civil War artillery piece which is still regularly fired.
S111 was cast at the Selma Naval Gun Foundry on November 23rd, 1864. It is marked “1865” on the right trunnion - reflecting the time that it took to rifle and band the Brooke prior to it being shipped to Columbus, Georgia on March 17th, 1865. It is marked as weighing 14,800 pounds.
S111 was sent to Columbus, Georgia to become part of the armament of the ironclad ram CSS Jackson which had been launched in December 1864. However, CSS Jackson would be captured by United States Army Cavalry under Major General James Wilson in April 1865 following the Battle of Columbus, one of the last battles of the American Civil War.
Another 7-Inch Double Banded Brooke Rifle, S81, which was part of the armament of CSS Jackson is also displayed at the National Civil War Naval Museum. S85, a 6.4-Inch Brooke, is displayed nearby at Linwood Cemetery.
The recovered lower hull of CSS Jackson may be seen at the National Civil War Naval Museum in Columbus, Georgia.
Photograph of CSS Jackson (originally known as CSS Muscogee) shortly after her launching in Columbus, Georgia. 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-48000/NH-48026.html
