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Fort Foote Park
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During the Civil War the 15-inch Rodman Guns cost the government $9,000 each but they could do major damage to a wood sailing ship-of-war. At close range, even the ironclads were not safe from the massive weapons. The two guns on display at Fort Foote were cast at the Cyrus Alger Company in 1863 and 1864. |
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The first 15-inch gun arrived in the fall of 1863 and by April 1865 the fort boasted of two 15-inch Rodman Cannons, four 200-pounder Parrott Rifles and six 30-pounder Parrott Rifles. The work was declared complete on June 6, 1865. |
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A large crowd of civilian and military observers gathered to watch the guns fire on February 27 and again on April 1, 1864. The 8-inch Parrott Rifles weighed over 8 tons and used 16 pounds of powder to fire its 200-pound projectile 2,000 yards down river. But the fort’s main attraction was the 15-inch Columbiads. They weighed in at 25 ton and required 300 to 400 soldiers to move them up the bluff from the river. Forty pounds of powder could send a 440-pound round-shot over 5,000 yards. |
Fort Foote Rodman Gun Today (above)
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All Fort Foote Pages: < Previous | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Next >
Civil War Defenses/Fort
Circle Parks
Fort Foote |
Fort Greble & Battery Carroll
| Fort Stanton |
Fort Dupont |
Fort Bunker Hill
| Fort Totten & Fort Slocum
| Fort Stevens | Battleground
National Cemetery |
Fort Reno | Fort
Bayard at Boundary Park |
Battery Kemble |
Fort Marcy |
Fort Circle Park Trail
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