US Navy 9-Inch Dahlgren Number 34 of USS Wabash
US Navy 9-Inch Dahlgren Number 34 is closest to the camera of the naval guns displayed at the National Civil War Naval Museum in Columbus, Georgia
US Navy 9-Inch Dahlgren Number 34 is one of five 9-Inch Dahlgrens displayed at the National Civil War Naval Museum in Columbus, Georgia. It was cast at Tredegar Foundry in Richmond, Virginia in 1855. Records indicate that it served aboard USS Wabash. Number 34 may very well be a witness to the entire career of Wabash - from the captures of Hatteras Island and Port Royal Sound to the bombardments of Fort Fisher. At first glance the registry number looks like “84”. It is “34” - the three may have been struck upside down. Tredegar was assigned registry numbers 29-78. Number 84 was cast by West Point Foundry.
Number 34 is marked as weighing 9,129 pounds as manufactured. It is one of the earliest surviving Dahlgren guns. With the other early-production Dahlgrens, it has only a single vent, and both hammer mounting blocks are placed close together to serve the single vent.
Number 34 was modified post-war for service on an iron gun carriage. The trunnions, originally long for use on a wooden carriage, were shortened as not to protrude from an iron carriage.
Number 34 is a former bollard which spent a century or so emplaced in concrete at the Charlestown Navy Yard (Boston). It shows deterioration around the breech and damage to the chase like most other former bollards. However, had it not been used as a bollard, it would not survive to present.
The remains of bars passing through the chase can be seen on Number 34 and the other former bollards.
The trunnions of 9-Inch Dahlgren Number 34 were shortened post-war. This required restamping the year of original manufacture and caliber on the trunnion (9-Inch, 1855).
At first glance the registry number appears to be “84”, but “34” is correct. Note the deterioration at the cascabel caused by a century in concrete.
Number 34 is nearest the camera.
Number 34 viewed from the muzzle.
Four 9-Inch Dahlgrens and a US Navy 30-Pounder Parrott Rifle are displayed beside the National Civil War Naval Museum
9-Inch Dahlgren Number 248 in Hartford, Connecticut shows the original long trunnions for use on a wooden carriage.
9-Inch Dahlgren 1178 of USS Huron shows shortened trunnions for use on an iron carriage.
A 9-Inch Dahlgren still emplaced as a bollard at Boston may be seen with USS Cassin Young and USS Constitution in the background.
