Original Gun from CSS Virginia (aka
Merrimack)
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!"
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| For more information about the Dahlgren gun or the Museum, call 540-371-3037 or visit www.famcc.org. |