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

Move a 50,000 pound Rodman Gun

Photographed By Craig Swain, May 3, 2010

1. Move a 50,000 pound Rodman Gun Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Question: How do you move a 50,000 pound Rodman gun?

Answer:
With ingenuity - and a lot of difficulty.

Moving and mounting these huge guns before the days of diesel-powered cranes and bulldozers was a monumental job. However, with the aid of blocks and rollers, various types of jacks, sling carts and gins (a tripod and pulley arrangement), guns weighing more than 25 tons could be transported about a fort.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • Military.

Location. 32° 45.551′ N, 79° 51.488′ W. Marker is on Sullivans Island, South Carolina, in Charleston County. Marker can be reached from Middle Street, on the right when traveling east. Located at stop three of the tour of Fort Moultrie National Monument. 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. Defending Charleston 1861-1865 (a few steps from this marker); Harbor Defense (a few steps from this marker); Enlisted Men's Barracks (within shouting distance of this marker); Traverse c.1820

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, August 3, 2013

2. Move a 50,000 pound Rodman Gun Marker

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(within shouting distance of this marker); Harbor Defense 1809-1860 (within shouting distance of this marker); Powder Magazine (within shouting distance of this marker); Fort Moultrie II (within shouting distance of this marker); Building Forts (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sullivans Island.

More about this marker. Drawings on the marker illustrate a crew working on a garrison gin, a Confederate sling cart, lifting jack, and hand sling cart.

Also see . . . Fort Moultrie. National Park Service site. (Submitted on June 17, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)

Garrison Gin image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, May 3, 2010

3. Garrison Gin

In the courtyard of the fort, a garrison gin holds a 24-pdr Siege Gun. The gun was produced by West Point Foundry, New York in 1838.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on June 17, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 658 times since then and 4 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on June 17, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 2. submitted on August 22, 2013, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 3. submitted on June 17, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.