The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-02-26
Petersburg Exprass.

Calvin Shaffer, Major, 18th n. Y. II.
A, commanding Artillery Reserve, Army
of the Potomac. 437 Western Ave, Al
bany, N. Y, writes: II notice that others,
beside myself, who have had n voice in
the controversy regarding the Petersburg
Express fail to credit the 13-inch mortar
as being that famous gun. As to the gun
and its caliber, the weight of evidence
seems to be against me. Nevertheless,
purpose to maintain my opinion. There
were but three mot six) guns in Battery 5,
on Petersburg Front; they were 80
Founders mot 81 pOunders); there were
two ROdmans and one PARROT. Tn
Petersburg Express was a Rodman.
That is my recollection; possibly it may
have been reversed-two PARROTS and one
ROdman, and Il PARROT may have been de-
tailed on Petersburg Express duty, but I
think not. Certainly there was no such
gun known as 32-pOund PARROT or Rod
man. They were known as 10, 20, 30, 100
and 2OO-pounders. The Petersburg Ex-
press was 3O-pounder; diameter of bore
was 40 inches; carried n charge of three
and One-fOurth pounds of powder, and
threw shell of % pounds, to which should
be added the weight of the powder to ex-
plOde it, viz, one pound, and there you
have it-3O pounds. To make it more, you
Alust Step Outsiue VI tue y. g. H. n. tdC-
tics, prepared by Board of Officers, ap-
proved by the President, and adopted by
the War Department, Oct. 20, 1862,
for the instruction of troops when acting
as heavy artillery. There were 32-pounder
guns, as there were 1S-pounder, "a
FOUNDER, 42-pounder, 6i-pounder, and SO
on, but they were the old pattern, cast
iron guns. The IS and 24-pounder guns
were known as siege and garrison guns.
Occasionally a 32-pounder would be put
on siege duty, but they were all back num-
bers for that work. The old 10, "a, 80,
~ and 64-pounders, 8, 8, 10 and Pinch
Columbiads were relegated to sea-coast de-
tense. A little later there were at least
two 15-inch guns mounted, one at Fortress
throwing a 45O-pound projectile. with
charge of powder of 50 pounds, and range
of four and half miles, a big thing in
those days, but mere pigmy now. The
old 1S, "a, 80, AZ and 64-pounders were
known as the James System There
was also the Armstrong SYSTEM 80
Founders, throwing 29-pound shot, and
The latter gun, had a bore-diameter Of
four and half inches. throwing proiec-
tile of 80 pounds, known as Dyer's Pro-
jectile,' stripping badly, and mighty un-
certain--dangerous to friend and foe alike.
Shenkle's projectile, which was of the
same weight, gave about 10 per cent. in
creased range. / think the foregoing will
about dispose of the 32-pounder Parrot
business would like to hear from some
of the old boys of the 1st Conn. H. A.
who served the guns in Battery 5. Speak
up, boys, was the Petersburg Express
PARROT, or was it a ROdman? Did Bat
terry 5 consist of six guns or of three?
Were they all PARROTS, or were there two
Rodmans? There seems to be quite diff
ference of opinion, and while l do not
think l can be mistaken, yet realize that
over SO years have passed since the
Petersburg Express was located at Bat
terry 5. and commenced the transaction Of
business with that beleaugered city.
Whether Parrott or q Rodman, it was
a 3O-pounder, not 3d."