Congressman Hitt immediately introduced legislation mandating the gift... and on April 22, 1896, both houses of Congress passed the bill "with a hurrah." It was signed by President Cleveland, and Bermingham was notified by the War Department:

"Rock Island, Ill., April 23-- Mr. T.J. Bermingham, Galena, Ill.

Sir: Pursuant to instructions received from the Chief of Ordnance, U.S. Army, a Blakely gun, 3.67 calibre, has this day been shipped to your address as freight...All transportation charges to be paid by you. This gun has a brass plate with the following inscription:

"Presented to the Sovereign State of South Carolina, by one of her citizens residing abroad, in commemoration of the 20th of December, 1860."

Respectfully, A.A. Buffington, Colonel of Ordnance Commanding"

The shipping costs were defrayed by Messrs. Bermingham and E.W. Montgomery, of the Galena firm of William Hoskins & Co. On Saturday evening, April 25, the Blakely arrived and was carried to a place at the base of the Jo Daviess County Soldiers Monument in Grant Park.

At 7:30 A.M. on April 27, 1896, a "large crowd of old soldiers and citizens" gathered at the base of the Soldier's Monument for the formal presentation of the "war worn cannon" to the Grant Park Commission.

T.J. Bermingham, who was "chiefly instrumental in securing the relic for Galena", spoke briefly to open the ceremonies:

"Gentlemen of the Board of Park Commissioners: It gives me great pleasure to transfer to you for the use and embellishment of Grant Park, this historic trophy. What more appropriate place could be selected, or what day could be more desirable? Here, under the shadow of this monument, erected to the sacred memory of the brave heroes who faced death, that the spirit of treason might be destroyed, this war relic has been placed, and is now conveyed to your care on this memorable day which we are celebrating to the memory of the Great Commander. This ordnance was dedicated on the 20th day of December, 1860...the birthday of secession. We dedicate it anew today with thankful hearts that we are a great and undivided nation..."

At the appropriate moment during Bermingham's address, the Blakely was unveiled by "little" Harriet Montgomery.

The Honorable Richard Barrett, representing the Park Commissioners, then formally accepted the gun. His remarks were filled with the chauvinism so characteristic of the period: The Blakely Rifle in Grant Park, Galena, Illinois...

"...Monuments that commemorate deeds of valor, and love of country, cannot be too numerous. They are sure- means of keeping alive the martial spirit which has been awakened by past triumphs. They animate the beholders with the pride of their country's renown. They remind us of former greatness and point to future glory. With monuments, such as this, (in) our public places, where they force themselves upon the attention of the people, the memories of glorious deeds will never die. In behalf of the commissioners of Grant Park, and of the thousands who will inspect it, and be moved by the events connected with its history, it is with very great pleasure that I receive this cannon, and give it this most suitable place in this park, from whence is a full view of the monument to the memory of the Great Commander, our former fellow citizen, General Grant, under whose banner many of you have often marched to victory..."

After Treasurer White related an informal history of the capture of the gun, "with a joke or two at the expense of the rebels," the crowd dispersed.

Today a Blakely rifled gun rests on the fringe of Grant Park... silently trained toward the west side of the river. The commemorative plate has been removed... its fate unknown. The plate's original shape and position is evidenced by pitting of the iron on the gun's breach.

The bore diameter of this piece has recently been identified as 3.75 inches by Edwin Olmstead and Wayne Stark, although the piece was at first identified as a 3.5-inch rifle, and then in later documents, a 3.67 inch rifle.

Some questions about the Galena Blakely still beg to be answered: Is the 3.75 inch Blakely in Galena the same Blakely as the 3.5 inch Blakely reported to participate in the bombardment of April 12, 1861? Was more than one Blakely rifle presented to the state of South Carolina? This mystery is furthered by a projectile identified in the West Point Museum catalog as the "first artillery projectile fired by the Confederates at Fort Sumter". It was almost certainly fired from a 3.5-inch rifle. What rifle fired this 3.5-inch projectile?

The Galena Blakely is often ignored by visitors... overshadowed by the nearby statue of Ulysses Grant. Occasionally, a child will peer into its muzzle, or straddle the tube as if to ride an imaginary horse. However, the Galena Blakely deserves the attention of all artillerists... for its mysteries and distinguished history make for a truly remarkable and historic cannon.