CS Army 30-Pounder “Parrott” Rifle at Fort Morgan
30-Pounder (4.2-Inch) Rifle at Fort Morgan, Alabama
A 30-Pounder (4.2-Inch) Rifle manufactured by Tredegar (Richmond, Virginia) in 1862 is displayed at Fort Morgan. The rifle is resembles the US Army Parrott Rifle. The rifle’s breech was blown off at some point. The missing breech allows the bore to be seen from the breech - and it is roughly and inch off-center.
Like the US Army Parrott Rifle, this is a cast iron cannon with a wrought iron reinforcing band over the breech. However, unlike the US Army model, the Tredegar-cast rifle has a breech band composed of four individual rings - much like a Brooke Rifle. I could not make out markings through the rust and remaining paint, though Ripley recorded the markings as “1862” on the left trunnion and “J.R.A., T.F.” on the right trunnion (Joseph Reid Anderson, Tredegar Foundry.)
Three 30-Pounder Confederate “Parrotts” are known to exist.
While the burst breech of this rifle might invite comments on the reliability of Parrotts, remember this is a Confederate-cast example. Also, the US-manufactured 30-Pounder Parrott was in general extremely reliable. I believe only three 30-Pounders burst in US Army service - one of these after firing 4,650 rounds on Morris Island - an extreme endurance record for a Civil War rifled cannon.
The off-center bore may be seen at the burst breech.
