US Army 4.5-Inch Rifles and 8-Inch Mortars in Decatur, Illinois
The photos in this post were originally shared on Facebook to the group “Big Cannon Project by Krzysztof Kurylowicz. Many thanks to him for allowing their use here!
Two US Army 4.5-Inch Siege Rifles and two US Army 8-Inch Siege Mortars are displayed in front of a monument in Decatur, Illinois. The monument lists the names of all those from Macon County who fought for the Union during the Civil War.
US Army 4.5-Inch Siege Rifles at Chatham Manor
Two US Army 4.5-Inch Siege Rifles are displayed at Chatham Manor on the Rappahannock River across from Fredericksburg. According to Olmstead et al., the two are:
US Army 4.5-Inch Siege Rifle, Pattern 1861, Number 81 manufactured at Fort Pitt Foundry in 1863. Weight as Manufactured 3,616 pounds.
US Army 4.5-Inch Siege Rifle, Pattern 1861, Unknown Number (damaged at muzzle).
The display of these two 4.5-Inch Rifles recalls a war time photo of a battery of three of the type limbered but in position overlooking Fredericksburg.
US Army 4.5-Inch Siege Rifle in Oswego, New York
A US Army 4.5-Inch Siege Rifle, Pattern 1861, is displayed in Oswego, New York. It was cast at Fort Pitt Foundry in 1861 and is registry number 10. As manufactured, it weighs 3,561 pounds. It is displayed upon the remnants of its carriage.