One famous Blakely gun was "The Widow Blakely," a 7.5-inch rifle used in the Confederate defense of Vicksburg, Mississippi, in 1863. On May 22nd, a shell exploded in the gun's barrel while it was firing at a Union gunboat. It took part of the end of the muzzle off. The Confederates cut what had been a 124-inch long barrel back to 100 inches and continued to use it as a mortar until the city fell.
It was taken to West Point as a war trophy where it remained for 96 years when it was returned to Vicksburg and is still on display about a mile from where it was located during the battle.
The CSS Alabama had a pivoting 100-pdr Blakely rifle on its forecastle. it was recovered from the wreck.
The "Lady Polk" is a restored Blakely 12-pdr field piece that had been used at Fort Pemberton. Today, it is at the Cottonlandia Museum, along with the ship's flag and fragments from the USS Star of the West.
More to Come. --Old B-Runner
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