Naval Gun... rather far inland

[Mark F. Jenkins]

One of the great parts of Olmstead, Stark, and Tucker's The Big Guns is its catalog of surviving pieces.

I've discovered an 11" Dahlgren in Holgate, Ohio. I haven't been there yet myself, but I found it on Google Maps. Find Holgate, OH, and then zoom in to the (sharp) corner of North Wilhelm St. (Ohio Highway 108) and Kaufman St. Switch to street view, pivot to look at it, and there it is...

Now, how did a Navy 11" Dahlgren get there, I wonder?

 

[rpkennedy]

If Holgate were closer to Lake Erie, I would say it's possible it came from a ship on the lake. But it's not so close that that's real likely.

R

 

[Mark F. Jenkins]

The only armed vessel on Lake Erie was the USS Michigan, and I don't think she had any XI-inch Dahlgrens. Very puzzling.

 

[NFB22]

Holgate isn't too far from where I'm at in Indiana...may have to make a stop there sometime. Maybe from a ship that was on Erie following the war? If im ever over in that area I'll stop, perhaps theres a plaque there that tells the story.

 

[Carronade]

A treaty between the US and Canada, maybe dating back as far as the War of 1812, limits each party to one armed ship on the Great Lakes - just recently we had to get the Canadians' concurrence to mount machine guns on Coast Guard patrol boats post 9/11. Michigan was ours until around 1912, though she was renamed Wolverine around 1905 to free up the name for a new battleship. At the time we were using state names for armored cruisers and a class of monitors in addition to battleships, and with the buildup under Teddy Roosevelt we were close to running out of names, though at the time Delaware, Utah, and North Dakota had not yet been assigned (not sure how Michigan got to jump the queue, maybe a congressman on the appropriations committee).

 

[NFB22]

A treaty between the US and Canada, maybe dating back as far as the War of 1812, limits each party to one armed ship on the Great Lakes - just recently we had to get the Canadians' concurrence to mount machine guns on Coast Guard patrol boats post 9/11. Michigan was ours until around 1912, though she was renamed Wolverine around 1905 to free up the name for a new battleship. At the time we were using state names for armored cruisers and a class of monitors in addition to battleships, and with the buildup under Teddy Roosevelt we were close to running out of names, though at the time Delaware, Utah, and North Dakota had not yet been assigned (not sure how Michigan got to jump the queue, maybe a congressman on the appropriations committee).

Never knew about the "1 Warship a piece" rule" thanks Carronade. Learn something new everyday.

 

[Mark F. Jenkins]

Although the Union uprated the Michigan's armament during the Civil War, which the British/Canadian authorities seem to have decided not to raise a stink about. But I'm still pretty sure she didn't mount an XI-inch Dahlgren.

 

[NFB22]

Although the Union uprated the Michigan's armament during the Civil War, which the British/Canadian authorities seem to have decided not to raise a stink about. But I'm still pretty sure she didn't mount an XI-inch Dahlgren.

All I could manage to find was that she mounted Parrott's and and smoothbores. Wikipedia also said she had a pair of boat howitzers as well.

Here's a book I found on her I haven't seen, could be a good read.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0472066072/?tag=civilwartalkc-20

 

[Mark F. Jenkins]

Oh yeah, I have that one; and it is a good read.

 

[frankconrad]

A canon is a canon, Maybe that is what was available at the time, maybe there was a navy man on the commite that got the canon, maybe someone wanted something different.
There are several navy guns in Iowa far from enough water to float one, letalone a rowboat.

 

[TerryB]

I would email the local historical society to see if they know anything. Sometimes I get results doing that.

 

[Carronade]

Michigan's original armament was just one 18pdr, and I recall - but don't recall the source - that that was in accordance with the treaty. Wonder if the increase was with the Canadians/British concurrence or as a warning to them? The greatest immediate threat would appear to be someone making use of the existing Lakes steamers, so there would be little need for anything as powerful as an 11-incher.

 

[Mark F. Jenkins]

Exact details on the Holgate Dahlgren from Olmstead, Stark & Tucker: appendix C153, p. 259:

Foundry HW&Co [Hinkley, Williams & Co.]
Registry# 313
Inspected by RLM [Robert L. May]
FDY# 22
Year [18]63
Weight 15,835
Served on USS Seneca

(Seneca was one of the Unadilla-class "90-day gunboats")