Utley Cannon

[DaveBrt]

Anyone have any info on this:

From the Fayetteville (N. C.) Observer

December 9, 1861

The Utley Gun

The Petersburg Express of the 6th inst., says that the "beautiful breech loading rifled cannon, the invention of Mr. Utley of North Carolina, and made in this city at the Petersburg Locomotive and Car Manufactory, was tried yesterday afternoon, east of the city, and proved a complete success. It surpassed the expectations of the inventor and the makers."

The Express of the 7th describes the gun as made of wrought iron, weighing only a little over 500 lbs., carrying a six lb. ball about five miles, with a charge of 1 lb. of powder. It is to be sent this week to Gen. Huger, with instructions from the Ordnance Department to try it, and report its merits.

 

[Carol]

I've included the website urls for each clipping.

The state journal. (Raleigh, N.C.) 1860-1862, August 24, 1861, Page 2, Image 2

The state journal. (Raleigh, N.C.) 1860-1862, August 24, 1861, Page 2, Image 2, presented by the North Carolina Digital Heritage Center in partnership with University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

newspapers.digitalnc.org

Semi-weekly standard. (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, June 29, 1861, Image 2

Semi-weekly standard. (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, June 29, 1861, Image 2, presented by the North Carolina Digital Heritage Center in partnership with University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

newspapers.digitalnc.org

Wilmington journal. (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, August 08, 1861, Image 4

Wilmington journal. (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, August 08, 1861, Image 4, presented by the North Carolina Digital Heritage Center in partnership with University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

newspapers.digitalnc.org

Semi-weekly standard. (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, December 14, 1861, Image 1

Semi-weekly standard. (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, December 14, 1861, Image 1, presented by the North Carolina Digital Heritage Center in partnership with University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

newspapers.digitalnc.org

 

[Carol]

Known as the Carolina Cannon and was patented in 1858 under patent#20229. At the time of patent, Utley was listed as living in Louisburg, NC. When pulling the actual patent records, add two additional zeros. (just in case you didn't know) I've added the pdf link to the patent below. Interesting to know that Grey Utley owned a boarding house in Chapel Hill during 1863 and was often visited by his cousin, Rev. A.D. Betts Chaplain of the NC 30th Regiment. Betts is pictured in the center of the photo below.

The Weekly Raleigh register. (Raleigh, N.C.) 1852-1863, June 19, 1861, Page 1, Image 1

The Weekly Raleigh register. (Raleigh, N.C.) 1852-1863, June 19, 1861, Page 1, Image 1, presented by the North Carolina Digital Heritage Center in partnership with University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

newspapers.digitalnc.org

NC Chaplains pictured in the photo are #1-Rev. A.D. Betts 30th Regiment, #2-Rev. L.A. Bikle 24th Regiment, #3-Rev. A.A. Watson 2nd Regiment, #4-Rev. A.W. Magnum 6th Regiment, #5-Rev. A.L. Stough 37th Regiment, #6-W.S. Lacy 47th Regiment, #7-Rev. R.S. Webb 44th Regiment.

https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/0020229

 

[USS ALASKA]

Petersburg in the Civil War: War at the Door by William D Henderson

I don't have access to the book or even the rest of this page so don't know if any important information is below this...

Confederate Arms by III Albaugh, William A. and Edward N. Simmons

I don't have access to the book or even the rest of this page so don't know if any important information is below this...

Other North Carolinians patented early machine guns. Orange County resident Grey Utley patented such a weapon, along with many other inventions. His rapid-fire "Carolina Cannon" was registered in 1858, a full four years before Gatling obtained the patent for his gun.

Inventions | NCpedia

www.ncpedia.org

The gent had more than a few inventions and patents...

Not sure if any of the above helps with your query...

Cheers,
USS ALASKA

 

[Carol]

https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/0020229

 

[Story]

That'd make a neat model.

 

[UCVRelics]

Gen Huger did test it. I went thru all his papers and correspondence and could not find anything there. But we do know he tested it.

 

[Story]

Now I know why this sounds familiar - very similar to the Rardon's harmonica feed

 

[Story]

 

[Story]

So a post (along with a short video of the action being worked) of this four-shot cannon flowed past on social media. The consensus is that it's a designer's model and for our purposes, illustrates the many period approaches to a multi-chambered 'magazine' fed cannon.

 

[Story]

I'm starting to feel artsy-fartsy

​

 

[13 IL Cav & 64 GA Inf]

Anyone have any info on this:

From the Fayetteville (N. C.) Observer

December 9, 1861

The Utley Gun

The Petersburg Express of the 6th inst., says that the "beautiful breech loading rifled cannon, the invention of Mr. Utley of North Carolina, and made in this city at the Petersburg Locomotive and Car Manufactory, was tried yesterday afternoon, east of the city, and proved a complete success. It surpassed the expectations of the inventor and the makers."

The Express of the 7th describes the gun as made of wrought iron, weighing only a little over 500 lbs., carrying a six lb. ball about five miles, with a charge of 1 lb. of powder. It is to be sent this week to Gen. Huger, with instructions from the Ordnance Department to try it, and report its merits.

Never heard of the Utley cannon, and am looking forward to any replies to your post.

 

[13 IL Cav & 64 GA Inf]

Never heard of the Utley cannon, and am looking forward to any replies to your post.

A weight of less than 500 pounds, along with a range of 5 miles, is remarkable.