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 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.
4.62-Inch Gorgas Rifle at Stony Creek, Virginia
A 4.62-Inch Siege Rifle cast by Bellona Foundry (near Richmond) in 1862 may be found in Stony Creek, Virginia. Weight of 5,360 pounds is stamped on the breech. The right trunnion reads "BF / JLA" (Bellona Foundry / Junius L. Archer).
Olmstead et al. identifies this cannon as a "Gorgas Rifle", a type manufactured by both Tredegar and Bellona. This example is the only known survivor of the type. As noted in "The Big Guns", this rifle is nearly identical to the 4.62-Inch "Gibbon and Andrews" rifle found at Fort Branch except for the latter rifle being banded and therefore eight hundred pounds heavier.