Blakely Cannon, Raleigh, NC, USA
Posted by: 
NCDaywalker
N 35° 46.881 W 078° 38.337
17S E 713401 N 3962269
Fawcett, Preston & Company of Liverpool, England, cast this 4-inch, 18 pounder rifled cannon in 1862 and sold it to the Confederacy. It is near the entrance to the NC History Museum in Raleigh, NC.
Waymark Code: WMZ6TM
Location: North Carolina, United States
Date Posted: 09/20/2018
Views: 2
It was part of a "flying battery" of field artillery stationed at Fort Fisher that protected Confederate commerce vessels, called blockade-runners, that traded at Wilmington, North Carolina. This cannon participated in the fight for the blockade-runner Hebe, which ran aground near Fort Fisher on August 18, 1863. As the USS Minnesota and other Union gunboats shelled the Hebe five days later, a party of sailors landed and captured the Confederates' flying battery, including the Blakely cannon. Rear Admiral Phillips S. Lee, commander of North Atlantic Blockading Squadron. later sent the Blakely to Washington, D.C., as a trophy of the U.S. Navy's service on the blockade of Wilmington.
Fawcett, Preston & Company cast many Blakely patent cannons. This specific example, however, does not bear the "Blakely's Patent" stamp. The gun actually resembles a Federal 3-inch ordnance rifle more than a Blakely, even though it is indeed a Blakely model.
The N.C. Museum of History would like to thank the Naval Historical Center, Washington Naval Yard, Washington, D.C., for the loan of the Blakely cannon; Joe Schwarzer and Dennies Schurr for locating the gun; and East Carolina University's Maritime Conservation, Earl Johnson and Southern Industrial Constructors, and William Prentice for their assistance in conserving the cannon. Special thanks also go to Ken and Martha Howard for funding the conservation.
What type of artillery is this?: Cannon
Where is this artillery located?: Other
What military of the world used this device?: CSA
Artillery is no longer operational: no
Still may work: no
Date artillery was in use: Not listed
Date artillery was placed on display: Not listed
Parking location to view this Waymark: Not Listed
Cost?: Not Listed
Are there any geocaches at this location?: Not listed
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