US Army 3-Inch Ordnance Rifles 415 and 416 at Vicksburg
Two US Army 3-Inch Ordnance Rifles at Vicksburg National Military Park
Two US Army 3-Inch Ordnance Rifles flank a plaque noting the service of the 12th Battery Wisconsin Light Artillery. I believe these to be registry numbers 415 and 416, though none of the photos I took of the muzzles are not great. Both rifles were manufactured in 1862 and both are marked as weighing 816 pounds as manufactured.
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.
