US Army 10-Inch Seacoast Mortars, Pattern 1840, in Binghamton, New York
US Army 10-Inch Seacoast Mortar, Pattern 1840, displayed alongside three others of the type in Binghamton, New York
The photographs of the 10-Inch Mortars in Binghamton, New York have been generously provided by friend-of-the page, Rob James. I am very thankful to him for taking the time to take and send these photos!
To quote Mr. James regarding the mortars:
The mortars “are sequentially numbered 11, 12, 13, and 14. All have the same foundry/inspector's stamp S.V.B at the bottom of the muzzle. U S In front of the hoisting ring on the top of the tube between the trunnions. No. 11 weighs 5862.The left trunnion is marked: R.P.P over W.P.F, the right trunnion is marked 1861. No. 12 weighs 5830, the left trunnion is marked; R.P.P over W.P.F. The left trunnion had no discernable date. No. 14 weighs 5870, the left trunnion is marked; R.P.P over W.P.F. The right trunnion is marked 1861. No. 13 weighs 5840. The left trunnion is marked; R.P.P. The right trunnion is marked 1861. All appear to be mounted on original carriages with elevation screws at the front under the tube.”
All four of these mortars were cast in 1861 at the West Point Foundry and were inspected by Stephen Vincent Benét. These four mortars were cast to an earlier pattern which would soon be replaced by the Pattern of 1861, an example of which I recently photographed in St. Augustine, Florida. It is interesting to note that the Pattern 1861 is nearly 2,000 pounds heavier than the Pattern 1840 and has a completely different style of mounting.
The four mortars and pyramids of shells surround a monument dedicated to the “Heroic Sons” of Broome County. An article on the website “Treasures of the Tier” states that construction began on Memorial Day, 1888, and the monument was dedicated on the Fourth of July, 1888. The article also states that the four mortars came from Fort Jay on Governor’s Island.
An older view of the monument can be seen on a postcard here: https://www.ebay.com/itm/321834859034
Photo of the “Heroic Sons” Monument and Broome County Courthouse. Photo by Anton Schwarzmueller and originally posted on the Historical Marker Database and reused here according to the terms of that site. The photo may be found here: https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=198170
Dedication of the Monument at the Broome County Courthouse in Binghamton, New York to the “Heroic Sons who served in the Defense of the Union: 1861-1865.”
Elevating Screw on the mortar’s carriage
The 49-foot tall granite monument has bronze statues of both a soldier and a sailor.
Photo of the “Heroic Sons” Monument and Broome County Courthouse. Photo by Anton Schwarzmueller and originally posted on the Historical Marker Database and reused here according to the terms of that site. The photo may be found here: https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=198170
The muzzle faces of the mortars bear both the registry number, in this case “11”, and “SVB” for the inspector, Stephen Vincent Benét.
The weight of each mortar is stamped on the breech. Number 13 weighs 5,840 pounds.
“US” is stamped on top of the barrel, just ahead of the lifting ring.
The trunnions bear the date “1861”.
The trunnions also show that all four mortars were cast at West Point Foundry (Robert Parker Parrott being the proprietor)
Additional photos of the mortars - again many thanks to Rob James!
