9-Inch Dahlgren Number 45 of USS Wabash at the National Civil War Naval Museum
9-Inch Dahlgren Number 45 is displayed alongside other ex-bollards at the National Civil War Naval Museum
US Navy 9-Inch Dahlgren Number 45 was cast at Tredegar Foundry in 1855. Among the earliest surviving Dahlgrens, it has two closely placed hammer mounting blocks which are oriented to a single vent. The research of Olmstead, Stark, and Tucker show that it was carried aboard the steam frigate USS Wabash. It may very well be a witness to the entire career of Wabash - from the capture of Port Royal Sound to the bombardments of Fort Fisher. Wabash remained in US Navy service following the Civil War, and it would seem that this Dahlgren, despite being an early model, did as well. At some point its trunnions were shortened for use on an iron carriage. 9-Inch Dahlgren Number 45's final service to the US Navy was as a bollard. The Dahlgren shows the deterioration at the breech and remains of a bar through the chase that are found in ex-bollards. At the end of the 20th Century, Number 45 was taken out of its concrete dockyard position. It is now one of several ex-bollards on display at the National Civil War Naval Museum in Columbus, Georgia.
USS Wabash photographed from the deck of USS Weehawken
9-Inch Dahlgren Number 45 is displayed alongside other ex-bollards at the National Civil War Naval Museum
9-Inch Dahlgren Number 45 is displayed alongside other ex-bollards at the National Civil War Naval Museum
9-Inch Dahlgren Number 45 is the second-to-last gun in this photo.
