The Dictator

[RollAlabamaRoll]

Cast in a foundry in Pittsburgh, the Dictator weighed in at 17,120 pounds. Thirteen-inch mortars were difficult to move due to their size and were transported by ships and by rail. At Petersburg, the Dictator was placed on a specially reinforced railroad flatcar and run along a spur line of the City Point and Petersburg Railroad into various firing positions. The flatcar also served as a firing platform.

 

[Pollaco]

Does this "hunk of iron" still exist today?

 

[UCVRelics]

Great Photo. Thanks

 

[RollAlabamaRoll]

Does this "hunk of iron" still exist today?

It Surprisingly does.

 

[connecticut yankee]

1st. Conn. Heavy Artillery Monument, Hartford « CT Monuments.net

ctmonuments.net

The "Dictator" (also called the "Petersburg Express") was the nickname given to a specific 13 inch coehorn mortar manned by the 1st Conn. Artillery Regt. during the war. In 1902 it was mounted on a pedestal on the grounds of the Connecticut State Capitol in Hartford CT where it remains to this day.

 

[Elliot Crumblemuffin]

1st. Conn. Heavy Artillery Monument, Hartford « CT Monuments.net

ctmonuments.net

The "Dictator" (also called the "Petersburg Express") was the nickname given to a specific 13 inch coehorn mortar manned by the 1st Conn. Artillery Regt. during the war. In 1902 it was mounted on a pedestal on the grounds of the Connecticut State Capitol in Hartford CT where it remains to this day.

I'm getting better at this Civil War stuff! I recognized the weapon and remembered that it was manned by a Connecticut unit but I couldn't remember which one. Thanks for jogging my memory . Next time I'm back I'm CT I'm gonna go pay a visit to The Dictator

 

[redbob]

To put this big girl in perspective, the balls weighed 208 pounds and the photo below shows the 13" ball in comparison to a 12# ball (4.62") for a Napoleon Gun and the piece in the middle is the thickness of the 13" ball.

 

[Dan Kohli]

1st. Conn. Heavy Artillery Monument, Hartford « CT Monuments.net

ctmonuments.net

The "Dictator" (also called the "Petersburg Express") was the nickname given to a specific 13 inch coehorn mortar manned by the 1st Conn. Artillery Regt. during the war. In 1902 it was mounted on a pedestal on the grounds of the Connecticut State Capitol in Hartford CT where it remains to this day.

My pedantic side wants correct you on that Dictator was a 13 inch sea cost mortar. Coehorns were the small more mobile mortars

 

[DixieRifles]

Im confused. I thought this mortar was on display at Petersburg or more specifically near The Crater. I recall seeing one there in the 1960's.

The above color photo shows it displayed at a park—no location mentioned. However, @connecticut yankee says there is one at the State capitol. Are we talking two different 13-in mortars?

 

[redbob]

Yes, unless they have come up with a real one; I seem to remember that the one at Petersburg was a copy and possibly made of concrete.

 

[7thWisconsin]

Im confused. I thought this mortar was on display at Petersburg or more specifically near The Crater. I recall seeing one there in the 1960's.

The above color photo shows it displayed at a park—no location mentioned. However, @connecticut yankee says there is one at the State capitol. Are we talking two different 13-in mortars?

The real Dictator mortar is in front of the State House in Hartford Conn. It´s huge. You can see it from a casual drive by. The one in Peterburg is a replica, on the site where the Dictator was fired.