About Those Exploding 100-Pdr. Rifled Parrots at First Fort Fisher-- Part 1

It was a 100-Pdr. Parrott Rifle cannon which blew up and killed John S. Griscom on December 24, 1864.

From the Ortner Graphics site "The Patriot and Parrott Cannon."

In the summer of 1861, Captain Robert Parrott developed a 100-pdr. cannon with a 6.4-inch diameter bore.  The overall length of the weapon was 155-inches and it had a weight of around 9,827 pounds.

In the winter of  1862, the West Point Foundry  turned out its first  200-pounder with a diameter of 8 inches.  They had an overall length of 162 inches and weighed 16,537 pounds.

The Navy also tried their hand with this weapon, but like the 30-pounder, it was shortened for naval use.  Length for arms made specifically for the Navy was 136 inches and fired a 152-pound shell.  Naval Parrotts can easily be identified by the anchor which can be found on the tube between the trunnions.

--Old B-Runner