US Army 4.5-Inch Rifles and 8-Inch Mortars in Decatur, Illinois
Two 4.5-Inch Rifles and two 8-Inch Mortars are displayed in Decatur, Illinois. Photo by Krzysztof Kurylowicz
The photos in this post were originally shared on Facebook to the group “Big Cannon Project by Krzysztof Kurylowicz. Many thanks to him for allowing their use here!
Two US Army 4.5-Inch Siege Rifles and two US Army 8-Inch Siege Mortars are displayed in front of a monument at Fairview Park in Decatur, Illinois. The monument lists the names of all those from Macon County who fought for the Union during the Civil War.
The four artillery pieces are:
US Army 4.5-Inch Siege Rifle Number 61 manufactured by Fort Pitt Foundry in 1863. Weight as manufactured was 3,559 pounds.
US Army 4.5-Inch Siege Rifle Number 96 manufactured by Fort Pitt Foundry in 1863. Weight as manufactured was 3,568 pounds.
US Army 8-Inch Siege Mortar Number 40 manufactured by Fort Pitt Foundry in 1864. Weight as manufactured was 1,007 pounds.
US Army 8-Inch Siege Mortar Number 51 manufactured by Fort Pitt Foundry in 1864. Weight as manufactured was 1,033 pounds.
The two types show two very different approaches to siege artillery. The rifles could fire a somewhat lighter shell with a flat trajectory at long range. The mortars fired a shell at a very high trajectory - useful for dropping a shell into fortifications.'
See my post on the 4.5-Inch Siege Rifle: https://www.santee1821.net/ships-forts-and-technology/us-army-45-inch-siege-rifles
