Introduction of Cannons on Display

At the fort, we have a large display of cannons. This includes 10-foot Rodman guns, an 8-inch siege gun, a 15-foot Rodman, and a Parrott rifle. They are all displayed on the top tier and parade grounds. Inside the fort walls, there’s another 15-foot Rodman and a cannon from the USS Constitution. We also have a cannon from the Spanish-American War.

8″ Siege Mortar.

A cast-iron siege mortar from 1861 is located inside Front V of the Fort, right above the main entrance. Cemetery workers discovered this rare piece at Mount Hope Cemetery in Boston. They donated it to the Castle Island Association. Most cannons at the fort defended the harbor against ships. In contrast, this mortar targeted enemy infantry on the ground.

Unlike traditional cannons, mortars fire explosive shells high into the air. This makes them effective for hitting ships or enemy troops taking cover. They usually fire them at a 45-degree angle, with an average range of about 1,200 yards.

Rodman Gun: The Battlefield Beast

The 15′ Rodman Gun was a game changer on the battlefield. It measured 15 feet long and weighed over 49,000 pounds. A 50-pound powder charge could fire a 440-pound solid shot or a 352-pound ball up to three and a half miles away. It had a smoothbore barrel that loaded from the front using a special crane. A standard crew of eleven to fourteen men operated it.

Each battery on the ramparts had its own magazine. This stored powder, fuses, cartridges, and other explosive materials. The crew positioned the magazines nearby to ensure rapid fire. Each magazine was surrounded by dirt. This dirt protected the battery from enemy ships firing from below.

Imagine the sheer force and NOISE of firing this thing!

20 Pound Parrott Rifles For Precision

Designed by Robert Parker Parrott, a West Point grad from 1824, he was a First Lieutenant at the Fort. He served with the Third Artillery from 1831 to 1834. His focus was on artillery. By 1861, he perfected the rifled cannon, which was high-quality and easier to produce. He also improved its safety and reliability.

Manufacturers made the new guns from cast iron. They included a large wrought iron band on the breech for added strength. Robert Parrott patented his new rifle in 1861. The Parrott rifle spun its long, specially designed projectile. This feature made it more accurate than older smoothbore guns. During the War of 1812, cannons weren’t strong or accurate enough to take down a granite fort. This new weaponry during the Civil War made these defensive forts outdated.

The cannons shown below are on loan from Salem Armory to the Castle Island Association.

Resources used for this Article:

Castle Island and Fort Independence book by William Reid.

This book can be found at the Boston Public Library or purchased on online on amazon.com

Great resourece on Robert Parker Parrot , here is more information of him from Dartmouth Library.