Tennessee Artillery

[Tennessee_Mountainman]

Did Tennessee have any importance when it came to manufacturing artillery pieces? From my understanding there were iron works in Memphis, Murfreesboro, and Nashville.

 

[UCVRelics]

Most of the furnaces in Tenn were there before the war making farm items etc, Clark and Cumberland come to mind but as far as making cannons I have never heard of a foundry in Tenn making cannons just cannon balls. The ones in Memphis, Murfreesboro, Nashville made small arms, swords, d guards, etc.

 

[redbob]

According to Daniel's and Gunter's Confederate Cannon Foundries, approximately 100 field guns were cast by Quinby & Robinson in Memphis and approximately 80 were cast by Brennan & Company in Nashville ( not all of the guns cast were accepted or delivered).

 

[UCVRelics]

According to Daniel's and Gunter's Confederate Cannon Foundries, 100 field guns were made by Quinby & Robinson in Memphis and 80 were made by Brennan & Company in Nashville

I stand corrected, leave it to a jarhead to have the right answers. Does it say what type of field guns?

 

[redbob]

I stand corrected, leave it to a jarhead to have the right answers. Does it say what type of field guns?

Primarily 6 & 12 pound iron guns, 1 bronze 3" rifle and 3 24 pound howitzers (these are at Shiloh). Also, even a blind squirrel finds an acorn occasionally...

 

[Tennessee_Mountainman]

According to Daniel's and Gunter's Confederate Cannon Foundries, approximately 100 field guns were cast by Quinby & Robinson in Memphis and approximately 80 were cast by Brennan & Company in Nashville ( not all of the guns cast were accepted or delivered).

Thanks. Are those a lot compared to other CSA production factories? I always hear that Richmond produced the most.

 

[UCVRelics]

Primarily 6 & 12 pound iron guns, 1 bronze 3" rifle and 3 24 pound howitzers (these are at Shiloh). Also, even a blind squirrel finds an acorn occasionally...

When I saw Memphis, Nashville the first thing I thought was Memphis Novelty Work, Leech & Rigdon etc. I knew there were works that made artillery shells as I have a Tenn Mullan. like my Granddaddy said, "Boy don't go off half cocked, wait 24 hours think on it and then go off Full Cocked"

 

[redbob]

Thanks. Are those a lot compared to other CSA production factories? I always hear that Richmond produced the most.

The top 3 are :Bellona and Tredegar produced around 1200 heavy and light guns, Selma produced 153 (primarily heavy) and Augusta 130.

 

[redbob]

When I saw Memphis, Nashville the first thing I thought was Memphis Novelty Work, Leech & Rigdon etc. I knew there were works that made artillery shells as I have a Tenn Mullan. like my Granddaddy said, "Boy don't go off half cocked, wait 24 hours think on it and then go off Full Cocked"

Don't feel bad, until I got this book; I thought that only Selma and Tredegar made cannon.

 

[UCVRelics]

Thanks. Are those a lot compared to other CSA production factories? I always hear that Richmond produced the most.

That is a very small amount compared to Richmond, Atlanta and Selma. Once we lost Tenn to the yankee horde all that ceased to exist.

 

[UCVRelics]

Don't feel bad, until I got this book; I thought that only Selma and Tredegar made cannon.

What bad is I have that book but its down stairs in my war room,

 

[Tennessee_Mountainman]

The top 3 are :Bellona and Tredegar produced around 1200 heavy and light guns, Selma produced 153 (primarily heavy) and Augusta 130.

Geez that's a lot more than TN as a whole produced. Do you think it had part to due with Tennessee being captured so early by Grant? Where did these manufacturers get their raw material? I would imagine some but not much came from the East TN mountains, since they stayed loyal to the Union.

 

[alan polk]

I believe Quinby & Robinson produced cannon that had left-hand twist. Or, at least, some of them did.

 

[redbob]

Geez that's a lot more than TN as a whole produced. Do you think it had part to due with Tennessee being captured so early by Grant? Where did these manufacturers get their raw material? I would imagine some but not much came from the East TN mountains, since they stayed loyal to the Union.

Since Memphis and Nashville fell relatively early in the War, the number of guns that were produced in these two cities is pretty impressive for the short time that they were in business. I'm not sure where the raw materials for this area came from but when the iron, coal and limestone production got cranked up in middle Alabama, they were able to produce enough raw materials to furnish foundries in both Alabama and Georgia. Raw materials also became a problem for Richmond when the Western part of Virginia was lost to the South with many old iron 6#guns and other iron materials being returned to Richmond to be melted down and recast into other guns.

 

[Legion Para]

For further reading on Quinby & Robinson.

Memphis Rifles: 3-inch bronze guns from Quinby & Robinson

https://markerhunter.wordpress.com/2012/11/19/3in-qnr-rifles/

 

[Legion Para]

Memphis Napoleons: 12-pdr field guns from Quinby & Robinson

https://markerhunter.wordpress.com/2012/04/27/12-pdr-field-guns-qr/

 

[Tennessee_Mountainman]

For further reading on Quinby & Robinson.

Memphis Rifles: 3-inch bronze guns from Quinby & Robinson

https://markerhunter.wordpress.com/2012/11/19/3in-qnr-rifles/

Well that changes the whole perspective. Not only were they rifled, but Memphis fell just after the contract was signed to manufactor these beauties.

 

[Albert Sailhorst]

I agree that Larry Daniel's "Cannoneers In Grey" is a well researched book and is a "must read" for Artillery enthusiasts!!.....Another great book that is specific to a particular unit is "Courage and Devotion: A History of Bankhead's/Scott's Tennessee Battery In the American Civil War" by Bruce R. Kindig. https://www.amazon.com/dp/1496918363/?tag=civilwartalkc-20

 

[Tennessee_Mountainman]

I agree that Larry Daniel's "Cannoneers In Grey" is a well researched book and is a "must read" for Artillery enthusiasts!!.....Another great book that is specific to a particular unit is "Courage and Devotion: A History of Bankhead's/Scott's Tennessee Battery In the American Civil War" by Bruce R. Kindig. https://www.amazon.com/dp/1496918363/?tag=civilwartalkc-20

I can't afford it, I have to register for the Perryville reenactment. Is there a PDF I can read?

 

[Albert Sailhorst]

I can't afford it, I have to register for the Perryville reenactment. Is there a PDF I can read?

Not sure if "Cannoneers In Grey" is available as a PDF...... I know "Courage and Devotion" is not.
Sorry I can't help.....Have fun at Perryville!!