News Release	Contact: Judy Jones Director of Development & Public Affairs P.O. Box 922 Fredericksburg, VA 22404 tel: 540-371-9220 Fax: 540-371-1001 famfundraising@earthlink.net
September 17, 2003

Original Gun from CSS Virginia (aka Merrimack)
Comes to Fredericksburg for Display

Fredericksburg,VA - The only gun to survive from the famed Confederate ironclad ship, the CSS Virginia (aka Merrimack), will be on display to the public for the first time ever beginning Tuesday, September 23, 2003 at the Fredericksburg Area Museum & Cultural Center, located on the corner of Princess Anne and William Streets in historic Old Town. Also known as the "Dahlgren gun" because it was developed by Rear Admiral John A. Dahlgren (1809-1870), this particular gun was damaged by a lucky canon ball shot on its casing on March 8, 1862 when the CSS Virginia met and defeated two U.S. Navy Union Ships, the USS Congress and USS Cumberland, in an effort to break the Northern blockade to the South's Capital city at Richmond.

As the Virginia approached the USS Cumberland to ram her, the Cumberland gunners inflicted the only serious damage ever done to the Virginia. Two guns had their barrels partially destroyed. This gun was apparently the forward-most port (left) broadside gun. One man was killed and several wounded, including Midshipman Henry H. Marmaduke, who later described the engagement. Despite the obvious damage to this gun, they continued to use it, but it kept setting fire to the two feet of wood on the inboard side of the iron shield. These two guns were replaced the following day after the Virginia returned to the Gosport Naval Yard in Norfolk following the battle ship's famous engagement with the Monitor. The engagement with the Monitor is widely acknowledged to be the most significant naval battle of the 19th century.

When Norfolk fell on May 10, 1862, the Confederates set fire to and abandoned Gospel Naval yard. It is probable that this damaged gun was retrieved from there and kept as a trophy. The barrel of the gun is stamped "Trophy #1." After the war, the Washington Navy Yard exhibited the gun. From 1960, it was displayed at Dahlgren as a reminder of the base's namesake and the base's continuing commitment to Navy combat readiness. Considered one of the safest guns ever made, the Dahlgren gun boasted a range of almost 4,500 yards and could accurately fire rifled projectiles as well as ball and canister shot.

The gun is being loaned to the Fredericksburg Area Museum & Cultural Center by the Dahlgren Division of the Naval Surface Warfare Center, by permission of the Naval Historical Center. It is scheduled to be installed onto a concrete pad near the William Street entrance to the Museum on September 23rd, and will be on display to the public through September 2006.

"To be the first public institution to display the only surviving gun from the CSS Virginia is thrilling," enthused Mary Helen Dellinger, Vice President & Curator of the Fredericksburg Area Museum. "There are few other objects from the Civil War more important, or more famous, than this cannon. What an honor for the Museum and the City of Fredericksburg!"