Buckhead in Atlanta in Fulton County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)

Civil War Siege Cannon

Photographed By Brandon Fletcher, January 3, 2012

1. Civil War Siege Cannon Marker

Inscription.

Civil War Siege Cannon. . , The Union Army used this cannon during the American Civil War, which was fought between 1861 and 1865. Called a siege cannon, it was too big and heavy to be used in most battles. Instead, it was used during sieges, which were lengthy assaults used to capture fortified cities or seaports. , , This particular type of siege cannon is called a Parrott Rifle. It was invented in 1860 by a former U.S. Army captain named Robert Parker Parrott, who designed a series of spiral grooves, called riffling, inside the iron barrel, or bore. The riffling made the cannon fire much farther and more accurately than previous bronze cannons that had smooth bores. As a result, this rifled barrel could hit a target almost two miles away. This is one reason more people were killed in the Civil War than in any other war in American history. , , Rifled cannons used different types of projectiles: solid shot cannon balls for knocking down brick walls and fortifications; shells with time fuses for making explosions; or case shot, which contained dozens of small iron balls. These balls flew through the air like bullets, killing any soldier in their path. , , Today, our Parrot Rifle rests on a modern steel stand so it can be displayed safely. Originally, it would have been on a wooden carriage with wheels, which allowed soldiers with eight horses to move the cannon where it was needed. The wheels also absorbed the shock when the cannon was fired. , , 4.2-inch (30-pounder) Army Parrott Rifle, Model of 1861 , Manufacturer: West Point Foundry, Cold Springs, New York , Date of manufacture: 1862 , Materials: Cast iron with wrought iron breech band , Range: Approximately 2,500 yards , , The Union Army used these guns in the sieges of Savannah, Charleston, Vicksburg, Mobile, Richmond, Petersburg, and many other places. It is not known where this particular gun was used. , , (caption) , Gun Crews of Company H, 3rd Massachusetts Heavy Artillery at Fort Lincoln - Defenses of Washington, District of Columbia, 1865

The Union Army used this cannon during the American Civil War, which was fought between 1861 and 1865. Called a siege cannon, it was too big and heavy to be used in most battles. Instead, it was used during sieges, which were lengthy assaults used to capture fortified cities or seaports.

This particular type of siege cannon is called a Parrott Rifle. It was invented in 1860 by a former U.S. Army captain named Robert Parker Parrott, who designed a series of spiral grooves, called riffling, inside the iron barrel, or bore. The riffling made the cannon fire much farther and more accurately than previous bronze cannons that had smooth bores. As a result, this rifled barrel could hit a target almost two miles away. This is one reason more people were killed in the Civil War than in any other war in American history.

Rifled cannons used different types of projectiles: solid shot cannon balls for knocking down brick walls and fortifications; shells with time fuses for making explosions; or case shot, which contained dozens of small iron balls. These balls flew through the air like bullets, killing any soldier in their path.

Today, our Parrot Rifle rests on a modern steel stand so it can be displayed safely. Originally, it would have been on a wooden carriage with wheels, which allowed soldiers with eight

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horses to move the cannon where it was needed. The wheels also absorbed the shock when the cannon was fired.

4.2-inch (30-pounder) Army Parrott Rifle, Model of 1861
Manufacturer: West Point Foundry, Cold Springs, New York
Date of manufacture: 1862
Materials: Cast iron with wrought iron breech band
Range: Approximately 2,500 yards

The Union Army used these guns in the sieges of Savannah, Charleston, Vicksburg, Mobile, Richmond, Petersburg, and many other places. It is not known where this particular gun was used.

(caption)
Gun Crews of Company H, 3rd Massachusetts Heavy Artillery at Fort Lincoln - Defenses of Washington, District of Columbia, 1865

Erected by Atlanta History Center.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical year for this entry is 1861.

Location. 33° 50.548′ N, 84° 23.195′ W. Marker is in Atlanta, Georgia, in Fulton County. It is in Buckhead. Marker can be reached from West Paces Ferry Road NW west of Slaton Drive NW, on the left when traveling west. Located at the Atlanta History Center. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 130 West Paces Ferry Rd NW, Atlanta GA 30305, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Gov. John M. Slaton (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Swan House

Photographed By Brandon Fletcher, January 3, 2012

2. Civil War Siege Cannon Marker

(about 700 feet away); a different marker also named Swan House (approx. 0.2 miles away); “The Storyteller” (approx. half a mile away); The Buckhead Theatre / The Social Center Reimagined (approx. half a mile away); Meet You at the Buck's Head / The Commercial Core Reimagined (approx. half a mile away); Ward's Div. Encamped (approx. half a mile away); 20th A.C.; Pace's Fy. Rd. (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Atlanta.

Also see . . . Atlanta History Center. (Submitted on September 6, 2015.)

Civil War Siege Cannon image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brandon Fletcher, January 3, 2012

3. Civil War Siege Cannon

[District of Columbia. Gun crews of Company H, 3d Massachusetts Heavy Artillery, at Fort Lincoln] image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brandon Fletcher

4. [District of Columbia. Gun crews of Company H, 3d Massachusetts Heavy Artillery, at Fort Lincoln]

Courtesy of the Library of Congress

Credits. This page was last revised on February 8, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 5, 2015, by Brandon Fletcher of Chattanooga, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 599 times since then and 36 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 5, 2015, by Brandon Fletcher of Chattanooga, Tennessee. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.