Sullivans Island in Charleston County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Cannon Row

Photographed By Dale K. Benington, July 24, 2017

1. Cannon Row Marker

Inscription.

Cannon Row. . Cannon Row. 7-inch Triple-Banded Brooke 21,290 pounds CS Army Produced: 3 Survivors: 1, 10-inch Parrott Rifle 26,900 pounds US Army Produced: 42 Survivors: 13, 8-inch Parrott Rifle 16,487 pounds US Army Produced: 178 Survivors: 8, 10-inch Confederate Columbiad 13,290 pounds CS Army Produced: 135 Survivors: 18, Modified10-inch Columbiad 22,000 pounds US/CS Army Produced: 149 Survivors: 14, While fourteen 10-inch Columbiads remain,this cannon is the only one with this unique modification., 10-inch Rodman 14,956 pounds US Army Produced: 1,291 Survivors: 98, 10-inch Rodman 14,980 pounds US Army Produced: 1,291 Survivors: 98, 13-inch Mortar 17,196 pounds US Army Produced: 90 Survivors: 27, The Collection. Fort Sumter National Monument has one of the greatest collections of seacoast or siege Civil War artillery in the country. Representing some of the rarest cannon in the world, this collection illustrates the expanding technological warfare of the Civil War. The cannon that make up Cannon Row are some of the largest and most unique within the park's collection., Some of the cannon in front of you were used during the Civil War near where you stand today. Others were brought to Sullivan's Island after the war to rebuild Charleston Harbor's defenses. All were produced before or during the Civil War by Union (US Army) or the Confederacy (CS Army)., A New Era of Artillery. The Civil War Era represents a period when radical advances in cannon technology increased power, range, and accuracy. Brigadier General Thomas Rodman's process for hollow casting cannon allowed for larger cannon and bigger powder charges. Mr. Robert P. Parrott's rifled cannon, among others, provided greater range and accuracy. With few foundaries, the Confederacy was forced to use existing weapons, often "rifling and banding" older smoothbore cannon to increase firepower and range. The cannon in front of you represent some of the best examples of cannon produced and modified using these processes., Cannon Technology. Banding a cannon increased its firepower. A band of wrought iron, expanded by heat, was slipped over the cast iron barrel. The band cooled, shrinking tightly in place, strengthening the breech to withstand the pressure of a greater powder charge. For more strength, additional bands were added. Highlighted in red below are the three bands that gave the 7-inch Triple Banded Brooke it's name., Rifling (cutting spiral grooves in a weapon's bore) gave a stabilizing spin to a projectile. Rifled cannon had greater range than smoothbores of similar size, and their new projectiles were usually more accurate and destructive than the old, round shot and shell.

Cannon Row
7-inch Triple-Banded Brooke
21,290 pounds
CS Army
Produced: 3
Survivors: 1

10-inch Parrott Rifle
26,900 pounds
US Army
Produced: 42
Survivors: 13

8-inch Parrott Rifle
16,487 pounds
US Army
Produced: 178
Survivors: 8

10-inch Confederate Columbiad
13,290 pounds
CS Army
Produced: 135
Survivors: 18

Modified10-inch Columbiad
22,000 pounds
US/CS Army
Produced: 149
Survivors: 14*

*While fourteen 10-inch Columbiads remain,this cannon is the only one with this unique modification.

10-inch Rodman
14,956 pounds
US Army
Produced: 1,291
Survivors: 98

10-inch Rodman
14,980 pounds
US Army
Produced: 1,291
Survivors: 98

13-inch Mortar
17,196 pounds
US Army
Produced: 90
Survivors: 27

The Collection
Fort Sumter National Monument has one of the greatest collections of seacoast or siege Civil War artillery in the country. Representing some of the rarest cannon in the world, this collection illustrates the expanding

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technological warfare of the Civil War. The cannon that make up Cannon Row are some of the largest and most unique within the park's collection.

Some of the cannon in front of you were used during the Civil War near where you stand today. Others were brought to Sullivan's Island after the war to rebuild Charleston Harbor's defenses. All were produced before or during the Civil War by Union (US Army) or the Confederacy (CS Army).

A New Era of Artillery
The Civil War Era represents a period when radical advances in cannon technology increased power, range, and accuracy. Brigadier General Thomas Rodman's process for hollow casting cannon allowed for larger cannon and bigger powder charges. Mr. Robert P. Parrott's rifled cannon, among others, provided greater range and accuracy. With few foundaries, the Confederacy was forced to use existing weapons, often "rifling and banding" older smoothbore cannon to increase firepower and range. The cannon in front of you represent some of the best examples of cannon produced and modified using these processes.

Cannon Technology
Banding a cannon increased its firepower. A band of wrought iron, expanded by heat, was slipped over the cast iron barrel. The band cooled, shrinking tightly in place, strengthening the breech to withstand the pressure of a greater

Photographed By Dale K. Benington, July 24, 2017

2. Cannon Row Marker

View of the marker and the row of cannon immediately behind it.

powder charge. For more strength, additional bands were added. Highlighted in red below are the three bands that gave the 7-inch Triple Banded Brooke it's name.

Rifling (cutting spiral grooves in a weapon's bore) gave a stabilizing spin to a projectile. Rifled cannon had greater range than smoothbores of similar size, and their new projectiles were usually more accurate and destructive than the old, round shot and shell.

Erected by National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • War, US Civil.

Location. 32° 45.537′ N, 79° 51.421′ W. Marker is on Sullivans Island, South Carolina, in Charleston County. Marker is at the intersection of Poe Avenue and Palmetto Street, on the left when traveling west on Poe Avenue. This marker is located along a park walkway, at the western end of a line artillery pieces. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Sullivans Island SC 29482, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Civil War Defense of Sullivan's Island (here, next to this marker); 13-Inch Seacoast Mortar (a few steps from this marker); 10-Inch Confederate Columbiad (a few steps from this marker); H.L. Hunley Disappears (a few

Photographed By Dale K. Benington, July 24, 2017

3. Cannon Row Marker

Distant view of the marker and the row of cannon behind it.

steps from this marker); Discovering the Hunley (a few steps from this marker); The Hunley Recovery Project (a few steps from this marker); 10-Inch Columbiad (Rodman) (a few steps from this marker); 10-Inch Columbiad, Rifled and Banded (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sullivans Island.

Credits. This page was last revised on May 22, 2020. It was originally submitted on September 20, 2017, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. This page has been viewed 306 times since then and 33 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 20, 2017, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio.