CANNONS--MUSEUM
From Knob Knowledge
The plaque reads: "10 pounder parrott rifle gun cast at West Point foundry, Cold Spring, NY, early 1861. Dug up on the site of new city hall in Spartanburg SC in Sept. 1959. Historic and priceless. Established to be one of twelve 10-pounder parrott rifles bought by the state of Virginia before the War Between the States, on advice of future general Stonewall Jackson after he tested a parrott rifle at VMI in July, 1860. Confederates first used these parrotts at Big Bethel, VA, June 10- 1861. None other of original 12 Virginia Parott rifles for Jackson's VMI test known to be in existence. A.A. Aurthur Museum-Union SC."
(The plaque was written in all caps. Punctuation added to increase readability.) Major Steven Smith says: "The parrott gun was the invention of Mr. Robert P Parrott, a 1824 graduate of West Point, who resigned his commission in 1836 and assumed the superintendency of the West Point Foundry, Cold Spring, NY. The cannons were distinguished by a single reinforcing band around the breech of the iron tube. His first rifled cannon design, a 10-pounder (2.9-inch calibre) was turned out in 1860. He received a patent for his design in 1861 and had developed the 20-pounder (3.67- inch calibre) and 30-pounder (4.2-inch calibre) versions, among other models. In 1864 the 3- inch Parrott rifle replaced the 10-pounder (2.9-inch calibre ) rifle. (Source: Major Steven V. Smith, Commandant, 1st Barracks. The Citadel, March, 2001) (HN)
