Hvy.Arty Cannon in Mobile.

[major bill]

Looked this over today in town town Mo ie.

 

[redbob]

Mobile was a heavily fortified town with a large number of heavy artillery emplacements around it. Also, one of the CSS Alabama's broadside guns is in the City Museum.

 

[major bill]

This is a 10 inch gun.

 

[major bill]

 

[rebelatsea]

are any markings visible on it ?

 

[UCVRelics]

This cannon has been moved around to several different locations in Mobile due to construction and growth. Here is the back story on this gun.

Fort Powell was located on a shell island at Grant's Pass in Mobile Bay. The fort was not complete but would mount 5 rifled guns, 5 field howitzers and 2 long range guns. The emplacements were connected to the central magazine by tunnels.

On 5 Aug 1864, the fort was shelled from the rear (Mobile Bay) at short range by the Union gunboat Chickasaw. The fort commander, Ltc. James M. Williams alarmed by the ferocity of the shelling, received permission to abandon the fort. He left behind Lieutenants Savage and Jeffers to spike the guns and blow up the magazine. The order was given at 10:30 PM and Fort Powell was blown up. The fort was destroyed but the guns were not and they were captured by the Union forces.