Friday, April 1, 2022

An Explosion of a 100-Pounder Parrott Rifle on the USS Commodore Perry on June 17, 1864.

The USS Commodore Perry was ordered to attack Fort Clifton on the Appomattox River near Petersburg, Virgina, by Gen. Benjamin Butler.  This order was delivered to Lt. Foster by Arnold Harris.

Report of Acting Volunteer Lieutenant Amos P. Foster of the USS Commodore Perry.

He was ordered by General Butler to open fire on Confederate Fort Clifton on June 17, 1864

"The first shot fired entered the battery; at the second shot the 100-pound Parrott burst. killing John Wilson (seaman) instantly and wounding Joseph Webb, Alfred N. Brown, Salvador Emmanuel, Franklin W.   Morgan, (seaman,) and Gilbert Young, (ordinary seaman.) 

"John Wilson was buried in the hospital burying ground at Point of Rocks.  Four of the wounded men were transferred to the United States steamer Osceola, and two (2) were retained on board this vessel.  One of those transferred to the Osceola (Joseph Webb) has since died.  The two men remaining on this vessel are improving rapidly."

There were quite a few Parrot 100-pounder rifled cannons that blew up during the bombardment of Fort Fisher.

--Old B-Runner


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