The 7-Inch Brooke Rifle of Fort Morgan
7-Inch Double Banded Brooke Rifle “S89” at Fort Morgan, Alabama
7-Inch Double Banded Brooke Rifle "S89" is displayed at Fort Morgan, Alabama. Cast at Selma, Alabama in July of 1864, it was delivered to Mobile in January of 1865. A nearby interpretive sign explains that it was mounted in a fortification north of Mobile. It is stamped with its "as manufactured" weight of 14,800 pounds.
The three individual rings which form the outer banding can clearly be seen in this well preserved example of a Brooke.
At the time of the Battle of Mobile Bay, Fort Morgan mounted two similar 7-Inch Brooke Rifles. CSS Tennessee was also armed with two 7-Inch Brooke Rifles and four 6.4-Inch Brookes. After Tennessee’s capture, the ironclad was towed into position and her Brookes were used to fire on Fort Morgan.
See posts about the Brookes of CSS Tennessee: https://www.santee1821.net/preserved-artillery/tag/CSS+Tennessee
The Historical Marker Database entry for this Brooke has an image of one of the Brookes which was mounted at Fort Morgan: https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=69898
“S89” may be seen stamped on the upper muzzle of the Brooke.
The museum at Fort Morgan includes fragments of a 7-Inch Brooke shell fired by the former CSS Tennessee (now in US Navy service) at the fort during the siege.
