Confederate States Navy Research Center, Mobile, Alabama, www.csnavy.org Confederate Naval Cannons * Commander John M. Brooke, Chief, Dept. of Ordnance and Hydrography, inventor Brooke Rifled Cannon. These were made both at Tredegar Foundry in Richmond and the Naval Ordnance Works at Selma, Alabama * This Brooke Rifle was made in Selma, Alabama at the Naval Ordnance Works, Commander Catesby ap Roger Jones (View the shipyards page to see where they were made) These were considered the finest made on either side and the double banding made them safer than northern Parrotts. There is much information in the Official Records of the Navies regarding the manufacturing of these fine pieces. * Jackson, Alabama This type was used on the CSS TENNESSEE and other ships in Mobile Bay as well as the CSS CHATTAHOOCHEE on the Chattahoochee River, which is the border between Alabama and Georgia. Also, ones such as S-96 above, located at the city hall in Jackson, Alabama, were used at Oven Bluff (S-96) and Choctaw Bluff and were in use in the batteries along the Alabama and Tombigbee Rivers north of Mobile and at Fort Morgan. *  Fort Morgan, Mobile Bay, Alabama (Image courtesy Henry Harris of NC) Brooke Rifled Cannon Number S-89 This 7 inch piece was originally located at Choctaw Bluff on the Alabama River above Mobile * Gainesville, Alabama Image courtesy Erick Bush of AL&AZ Brooke number S-26 is an 8 inch smoothbore presently located in Gainesville, Alabama at the Confederate cemetery. It was placed there and dedicated in 1876. Originally at Oven Bluff on the Tombigbee River, it weighs 10,370 pounds. It was turned over by the CS Navy to the army on 11 Aug 1864 for use at Battery McIntosh, then delivered to the Ordnance Warehouse at Mobile on 4 March 1865  and sent to Oven Bluff  upon reactivation. * Selma, Alabama Image courtesy Erick Bush of Al & AZ Brooke, 7 inch, 15,000 pounds, Number S-5, used on CSS TENNESSEE is located at City Hall * Confederate naval cannons at the Washington Navy Yard:   7 inch Selma Brooke from the CSS TENNESSEE: * 6.4 inch Selma Brooke from the CSS TENNESSSEE: * 7 inch Blakely Rifled Cannon from the pivot of the CSS FLORIDA: (Manufactured by Fawcett, Preston & Co. in England) * English Whitworth 5-inch rifle one of four captured on board the blockade runner Princess Royal: Notice the unique Whitworth rifling (Above Washington Navy Yard images courtesy author  R. Thomas Campbell) * Charleston, South Carolina 7 inch Brooke Rifle Number S-76 located at The Battery in Charleston, South Carolina Image by Henry Harris of NC * There is a good story that goes with this Brooke Rifled cannon number S-76 Above images by the Founder Attention Charleston Historians: Here goes the story---The founder, John Ellis and major contributor, Henry Harris were in town on the 14th of October 2000 for the first day viewing of the Confederate Submarine Torpedo Boat H. L. Hunley. Henry noticed and mentioned to John that the cannon above was mislabeled as 'Brooks' (correct spelling is 'Brooke') and fired upon the first seige of Ft. Sumter. Both had a good laugh as they knew the cannon was not even built during the seige of 1861. In fact, the iron ore for building  it was still in the ground in Bibb County,  Alabama in 1861.  Upon further examination, as presented with the evidence above, the serial number of  'S-76' shows that it was made in Selma and the right trunion was marked VII (for 7 inch bore) and the initials (you'll have to look hard near center) 'CapRJ' for Catesby ap Roger Jones, the Commander of the Selma, Alabama  Naval Ordnance Works, 1863-65 This piece was delivered to Charleston on 19 September 1864. * Could someone in Charleston please have this plaque replaced with a historically correct one? Thanks. * * Columbus, Georgia Linwood Park Cemetery 6.4 inch, double banded (notice they have separated), Brooke Rifle, Selma Foundry, Foundry # S 85, made1865, 10,800 lbs. This one was originally sent to Columbus, Ga. Images courtesy James B. Shuman of GA Note from the Founder: This gun #S-85 is mounted upside down! * Norfolk, Virginia Located at HQ, CIC, US Atlantic Command, Norfolk Navy Base 6.4 Inch - Double Banded Brooke Rifle - from the CSS Albemarle Tredegar Foundry  - Serial Number 1854 - Year 1863 -Weight 10,420 lbs - Inspected by ADB (Lt. Alexander M. DeBree, Assistant Inspector of Ordnance, Richmond Ordnance Works) Image courtesy Robert G. Elliott, Port O'Plymouth Museum of NC * Richmond, Virginia (Tredegar Foundry)

Brooke 6.4 inch, #1633, proofed by ADB (Lt. Alexander M. DeBree)

Images courtesy Henry Harris of NC *  Columbus, Georgia (Confederate Naval Museum, now known as CW Museum of Naval History)

The 11 inch Brooke to the left, #S-97, is the largest known in existance. The 10 inch on the right, #S-87, is the second largest Note both have the initials "CapRJ" for Catesby ap Roger Jones, Commandant of the Selma Naval Foundry Originally these two were sent to Charleston, South Carolina

 * The 11 inch as shown below is the largest bore Brooke Rifle in existance

Rear of 11 inch Brooke, #S-97

Bore of 11 inch Brooke, #S-97

* 7 inch Brooke on newly made pivot carriage looking out over the river. This is the one they shoot and it sounds great! * 7 inch Brooke #S-81 was originally sent to Columbus, Ga.

Serial number, S-81, shown above cascabel

Right trunion marked 'VII' for 7 inch Close up of serial number above cascabel

Columbus images by the founder * Check back---More to be added in the future (if you have any images like these or others, please send them in)
  Copyright 2000-2002, John E. Ellis, www.csnavy.org Return to the Weapons page