US Army 300-Pounder Parrott Rifle at Fort Jefferson
Ten of the largest Civil War era artillery pieces are displayed in the massive, remote, and beautiful Fort Jefferson on Garden Key in Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida. Many thanks to Mark Baker who shared these photos in comments and gave permission for their use.
US Army 32-Pounder Seacoast Guns, Pattern 1845, in St. Augustine
Two US Army 32-Pounder Seacoast Guns, Pattern 1845, are displayed in Plaza de la Constitución in Saint Augustine, Florida. These cannon was cast at Tredegar in Richmond in 1846. They are registry numbers Number 5 on and 27 on their muzzles. Both of these cannons have been rifled. As manufactured they weighed 7, 215 pounds and 7,256 pounds.
8-Inch Confederate Columbiads in St. Augustine, Florida
Two 8-Inch Confederate Columbiads cast by Bellona Foundry in 1861 are displayed in the Plaza de la Constitución in Saint Augustine, Florida. Bellona’s registry numbers “27” and “29” are stamped on the muzzle. Their weight as manufactured, 8,750 pounds, is stamped on the breech of each. The bronze plaques with each cannon claim that these cannons were present at Fort Marion (Castillo de San Marcos).
US Army 8-Inch Seacoast Howitzers, Pattern 1840, at Castillo de San Marcos
Two US Army 8-Inch Seacoast Howitzers, Pattern 1840, are the two largest cannons displayed among the 19th Century US cannons along the water battery at the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument. The two seacoast howitzers were made by Columbia Foundry in 1841.
US Army 10-Inch Seacoast Mortar, Pattern 1861 in St. Augustine, Florida
US Army 10-Inch Seacoast Mortar, Pattern 1861, displayed in St. Augustine, Florida. Manufactured by Cyrus Alger & Co. in 1862, this is one of only eight of the type made - of which two survive. It strongly resembles its 13-Inch “big brother” but weighs only 7,640 pounds verses around 17,000 pounds for the 13-inch. It is considerably larger than the 10-Inch Siege Mortar, Pattern 1861 which weighed slightly less than 2,000 pounds.