An Interesting Artillery Bolt

[redbob]

There was no shortage of civilian patriotic fervor during the Civil War and often civilians from both sides wished to help their cause in any way that they could. This 2.25" Rushton Bolt (aka a Georgia Railroad Cannon Bolt) was an example of this fervor. In 1861 in the Georgia Railroad Machine Shop in Augusta, the mechanics led by William Rushton who was an Irish immigrant and master mechanic built a cannon which was referred to as a "Summer Oscillating Breech Loading Rifled Gun". It was reported that it had been constructed from the crank axle of a railroad engine.

At least two of these guns were manufactured and issued through the Atlanta Arsenal in 1862 through there are no records of where or if they were ever used. Rushton also contributed to the design of fortifications around Atlanta. This bolt was recovered from the Oconee River in Milledgeville, Georgia along with other Confederate munitions that had been dumped in the river.

 

[Belfoured]

There was no shortage of civilian patriotic fervor during the Civil War and often civilians from both sides wished to help their cause in any way that they could. This 2.25" Rushton Bolt (aka a Georgia Railroad Cannon Bolt) was an example of this fervor. In 1861 in the Georgia Railroad Machine Shop in Augusta, the mechanics led by William Rushton who was an Irish immigrant and master mechanic built a cannon which was referred to as a "Summer Oscillating Breech Loading Rifled Gun". It was reported that it had been constructed from the crank axle of a railroad engine. View attachment 581202At least two of these guns were manufactured and issued through the Atlanta Arsenal in 1862 through there are no records of where or if they were ever used. Rushton also contributed to the design of fortifications around Atlanta. This bolt was recovered from the Oconee River in Milledgeville, Georgia along with other Confederate munitions that had been dumped in the river.

Now that's one I 'fess up to never having heard of. More proof that the collective knowledge on these forums is astonishing at times. ...

 

[redbob]

Now that's one I 'fess up to never having heard of. More proof that the collective knowledge on these forums is astonishing at times. ...

I had heard of one, but never seen one until this one came up. There were actually two different types, this one with two small lead rings and one with just one large lead ring.

 

[rebelatsea]

I found references to a gun built from a locomotive crank axle the had fractured at the wheel boss (quite common on both sides of the Atlantic, resulting in some quite spectacular derailments), while researching the Savannah squadron, but what relevance it had to the CSN still have no idea, as, while CSS Savannah and Georgia were supposed to be issued with howitzers - neither ever were - and there are no indications that such a weapon was ever given to them (it says here !)