Letter, 1863 September 22, James Wallace to Brooks, regarding Parrott guns that failed [Recto]

TitleLetter, 1863 September 22, James Wallace to Brooks, regarding Parrott guns that failed [Recto]
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CreatorBaldwin, James

CollectionsThomas Benton Brooks Papers

Dates

Descriptive InformationLetter to Brooks from James Baldwin, reporting results of Baldwin's examination of the 100 and 200 Pdr Parrott guns that failed during the bombardment of Ft. Sumter. The number of rounds at which guns failed, signs of crystallization, cracks, and fractures in the guns are detailed.

Transcription[Letter] Morris Island SC [South Carolina] Sept [September] 22nd 1863; Major; I have the honor to report the following, as the result of an examination, of the 100 Lb and 200 Lb Parrot guns, which have burst during the present seige. [Table] [Header 1] The guns examined were- [Header 2] Round at which gun burst or failed [Row 1, Column 1] 1. The 200 Pdr in the Marsh Battery [Row 1, Column 2] 36 [Row 2, Column 1] 2. " " " " Left Breaching Battery [Row 2, Column 2] 522 [Row 3, Column 1] 3. " " " " Detached Battery, on the extreme right of the left buttress [Row 3, Column 2] 599 [Row 4, Column 1] 4. " " " Capt. Strahan's Battery [Row 4, Column 2] 227 [Row 5, Column 1] 5. " " " " " " " [Row 5, Column 2] 226 [Row 6, Column 1] " 100 Pdr " Capt Comstock's Battery [Row 6, Column 2] 522 [/Table] Nos 2 and 6 were shattered in pieces. 1, 4, and 5 were disabled by blowing out the cast-iron portion of the breech, from a point 1" in rear of the vent-piece. The metal around the vent piece was sound. The surface of fracture in 1, was covered with minute cracks. No. 3 was cracked from the right trunnion, diagonally toward the vent_the reinforce-band was sound. At the time of their bursting, 1, 2, 4 and 5, threw their projectile nearly or quite to its destination. The projectile of 6 was only thrown a few yards. The fracture of the cast iron, was in each case granular, with no appearance of crystallization. The fracture of the reinforce-bands was granular, with the exception of that of a fragment of the band of 2, which exhibited

LocationsMorris Island, Charleston County, South Carolina, United States(32.71573,-79.89037)

TopicsSouth Carolina--History
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Artillery operations
Fort Sumter National Monument (Agency : U.S.)

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RightsU.S. Government Work Learn More