Fort Wool in Chesapeake Bay-- Part 5: The Sawyer Gun

The range of the Sawyer gun, with extended elevation, extended all the way to Confederate-held Sewell's Point in Virginia, 3 miles away (where Norfolk Naval Base is now located).  The Confederates had built an impressive fort there complete with  bastions, a redan and three artillery batteries mounting 45 guns.

The Sawyer gun was rifled and could fire a shot further and with more accuracy than the usual smoothbore cannons in use.  It was one of several rifled artillery pieces developed by Sylvanus Sawyer. Sadly for him, none of his designs were widely adopted by Union forces.

A weapon of  the type at Fort Wool was tested at nearby Fort Monroe in 1859.  Two different Sawyer weapons, a 24-pounder rifle and a 3.67-inch were used at the Siege of Richmond in 1864-1865.  The 24-pounder burst on the tenth fire and the 3.67 was rarely used.

Fort Wool had a ringside seat for the Battle of Hampton Roads between the CSS Virginia and USS Monitor during what is referred to as the Battle of the Ironclads on March 9, 1862.  The Sawyer gun fired on the Virginia, but no damage was done to the ship because of her armor.

--Old Secesh

99th New York Infantry: the "Union Coast Guard"-- Part 4: 1862

These are events in 1862.

JANUARY: Designated as 99th New York Infantry Regiment.

JAN. 7-FEB. 8TH: Co. B detached to steamers Southfield and Hunchback and accompanied Burnside's Roanoke Island Expedition.

FEB. 8TH: Battle of Roanoke Island. Company B detached. Three men killed or mortally wounded, seven men wounded.

MARCH 7TH: Co. K organized. Co. D serving on the USS Congress.

MARCH 8-9: Battle of Hampton Roads between the CSS Virginia, USS Monitor and U.S. fleet. Destruction of the USS Congress and Cumberland. The 99th lost ten killed or mortally wounded, fifteen wounded and seven missing from Co. D serving on the USS Congress.

More to Come From 1862.

USS Congress Not a Good Ship To Be On in March 1862.  --Old Secesh