Existing comment:
Harbor Defense
1873 - 1898
America's attention turned away from warfare when the Civil War ended and seacoast defenses, including Fort Moultrie, deteriorated. But another crisis wasn't long in coming – disputes with Great Britain in 1872 over the Alabama claims resulted in these two immense Civil War Rodman cannon being added to the fort's armaments. They remained in service through the Spanish American War, but by then seacoast mortars and Battery Jasper's disappearing guns provided Charleston's best defense.
15-inch Rodman Smoothbore:
An innovation in gun-casting technology developed shortly before the Civil War by General Thomas Rodman made it possible to cast these huge guns.
A crack fifteen man gun crew could load this 15-inch Rodman with 40 pounds of black powder and a 434 pound ball, aim it, fire it once every 4 minutes. Originally, four men lifted and loaded the heavy projectile by hand.
15-inch Rodman shot:
These big Rodmans were part of Charleston's defense against major enemy ships such as Spanish Admiral Cervera's fleet. Fortunately the Spanish fleet never appeared off Charleston; the Rodmans were no match for the naval rifles on the Admiral's armored cruisers. |