US Army Parrott Rifles at Fort Gaines
Two US Army 200-Pounder Parrott Rifles are displayed at Fort Gaines
Two US Army 200-Pounder (8-Inch) Parrott Rifles are displayed flanking the entrance to Fort Gaines on Dauphin Island, Alabama. Additionally, two 100-Pounder(6.4-Inch) Parrotts are displayed by the sign in front of the fort. Many thanks to friend of the page Jay Egelnick for sharing these photos!
The four guns are:
US Army 200-Pounder Parrott Number 47 manufactured in 1864 at West Point Foundry weighing 16,482 pounds.
US Army 200-Pounder Parrott Number 50 manufactured in 1864 at West Point Foundry weighing 16,582 pounds.
US Army 100-Pounder Parrott Number 136 manufactured in 1863 at West Point Foundry weighing 9,752 pounds.
100-Pounder Parrott Number 17 manufactured in 1862 at West Point Foundry weighin 9,780 pounds. Note: according to Olmstead et al., Number 17 has Navy-style markings on the barrel band but the data stamped on the gun match Army records.
I expect that these guns were shipped to the area post-war in an effort to partially update the armament of the fort. The 200-Pounder (or 8-Inch) Parrott is a fairly rare gun these days with a total of only eight known survivors and none of the Navy model (called the 150-Pounder but the same gun) are known to survive to present.
100-Pounder Parrott Rifles by the Fort Gaines sign
