From the March 3rd Baldwin County (Al) Mow.com.
A rare Civil War artifact may be on the verge of finding a new home. The Sea Coast mortar at the North Baldwin Chamber of Commerce where it has been for decades, lacks a fence or any sort of security, but it would be extremely unlikely that anybody would steal the 17,280 pound object.
Bay Minette is considering donating it to the Baldwin County Bicentennial Park.
The 13-inch bore mortar is believed to have been used at King's Battery at Fort Huger and was cast at Fort, Penna, in 1861 and deployed by Union forces in 1862. Such mortars were generally used in sea coast fortifications and in mortar boats.
They could fire a 280-pound explosive shell up to a maximum range of two miles. Only 27 are known to be in existence today.
FOUND IN 1967
This one was found in 1967 after a three-day search on a sunken barge in a small canal off the Tensaw River. Metal detectors were being used, but it was finally found using a pole in five feet of water.
It was raised in the same year and temporarily placed in Tom McMillan's (who found it) yard. (I wonder what our subdivision association would say if I had a sea coast mortar in my front yard?)
They now know it was used at the sieges of Fort Blakely and Spanish Fort in upper Mobile Bay in March 1865.
It was then moved to the Baldwin County Board of Education's Administrative Office before being moved to the Chamber.
After being in the water for over a hundred years and sitting outside since then, it is in need of restoration.
Cannon in My Backyard? --Old B-R'er
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