US Army 4.5-Inch Siege Rifle in Oswego, New York
US Army 4.5-Inch Siege Rifle in Oswego, New York
Many thanks to friend-of-the-page Casey Brown for sending these photos!
A US Army 4.5-Inch Siege Rifle, Pattern 1861, is displayed in Oswego, New York outside of City Hall. It was cast at Fort Pitt Foundry in 1861 and is registry number 10. As manufactured, it weighs 3,561 pounds. It is displayed upon the remnants of its carriage. It seems that it was once one of two of the type at Oswego - being paired with Registry Number 12. The information available to me suggests that Number 12 is now at Fort Niagara, New York.
Though it resembles in exterior form the US Army 3-Inch Ordnance Rifle, the 4.5-Inch was made of a cast iron block bored out whereas the 3-Inch Ordnance Rifle was of wrought-iron construction. However as the 4.5-Inch was designed by the US Army’s Ordnance Department, it is sometimes referred to as a 4.5-Inch Ordnance Rifle.
The 1879 Manual of Heavy Artillery Service by John C. Tidball shows the rifle fired a 35.5-pound solid shot or 25-pound shell with a 3.25 pound propellant charge (pp. 83-84). A range table in the same work shows a range of 540 yards at 1 degree elevation to over 3,500 yards at 10 degrees with solid shot.
The Muzzle of 4.5-Inch Rifle Number 10
Three US Army 4.5-Inch Siege Rifles in travelling positions on their carriages overlooking Fredericksburg. Presumably they have just arrived at or are preparing to leave the prepared positions (note the timber platform under the wheels of the carriage). For firing the tube would be moved forward on its carriage and the carriage disconnected from the limber. Detail of Library of Congress Photo: https://www.loc.gov/item/2018671498/
Additional Photos of 4.5-Inch Rifle Number 10
