US Army 3-Inch Ordnance Rifles 220 and 348 at Petersburg
Two US Army 3-Inch Ordnance Rifles, Numbers 220 and 348 - both manufactured in 1862 at Phoenix Iron Company, are displayed at Petersburg National Battlefield near Fort Steadman.
Two US Army 3-Inch Ordnance Rifles, Numbers 220 and 348 - both manufactured in 1862 at Phoenix Iron Company, are displayed at Petersburg National Battlefield near Fort Steadman. Number 220 weighed 817 pounds as manufactured and Number 348 weighed 816 pounds.
The 3-Inch Ordnance Rifle was manufactured in wrought iron at the Phoenix Iron Company in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. Over 950 3-Inch Ordnance Rifles were produced for the US Army during the American Civil War. Over 500 survive to the present day. During the war they were highly regarded by artillerymen on both sides as accurate, reliable guns. They were capable of firing shot, shell, case, and canister, though shot was rarely used and the rifled barrel produced irregular patterns with canister. After the war, they were kept in service in the US Army alongside the 12-Pounder Napoleon when most other types were retired.
