US Navy 32-Pounder of 42 Hundredweight Number 244 at Vicksburg
US Navy 32-Pounder of 42 Hundredweight Number 244 is displayed at Vicksburg National Military Park
A 32-Pounder of 42 Hundredweight, US Navy Registry Number 244, is displayed on “Cannon Row” at Vicksburg National Military Park. This cannon was manufactured at Fort Pitt Foundry in 1845. It is marked as weighing 42-2-20 (or 4,780 pounds). Six similar cannons can be seen mounted on USS Cairo, also at Vicksburg. Together, the seven examples at Vicksburg form a majority of the known examples of the type.
This cannon is interesting due to the rear sight bracket still mounted at the breech. The place where the adjustable (for elevation) rear sight would fit may be seen. Very few cannons have been preserved with their sighting systems still attached.
The Registry Number is largely obscured by the sight. Olmstead et al. supply the number “244” - likely by matching the weight marked on the base ring to that number in US Navy Bureau of Ordnance records.
The pin and block which would close the jaws of the cascabel around a breeching rope are missing.
The type: The 32-Pounder of 42-Hundredweight, originally a chambered gun, was developed as part of the 1845 system to be used in the main battery of sloops of war. It was similar in weight to 18-Pounders of an earlier generation of naval guns. In service it used a maximum 6-pound propellent charge to fire it’s 32-pound shot.
By the time of the American Civil War, the 32-Pounder of 42 Hundredweight was a relatively light cannon as far as naval guns were concerned. It was therefore used to arm a number of converted merchant ships taken into naval service.
The weight in Hundredweight: 42-2-20 is equal to 4,780 pounds.
View of Number 244 from the breech.
The cannon was cast by Fort Pitt Foundry
“Cannon Row” near the Vicksburg National Military Park visitors center.
