Visiting Civil War replica cannon well-received at battlefield

In late January, the thunderous boom of a “32-pounder” Civil War cannon will resound in the air at Fort Macon in Carteret County.

The cannon, a prize creation of the N.C. Parks Service and Wayne Community College, got a hero’s welcome Wednesday afternoon by a crowd of upward of 75 people at the New Bern Civil War Battlefield.

As part of its journey from Wayne to Carteret County, it stopped by the New Bern Historical Society battlefield, guests of the 7th Co. of North Carolina reenactors, battlefield guides and local Civil War enthusiasts.

Mike Dumont, head of the battlefield guides, called the working cannon replica a symbol.

“This would have been an implement of war,” he said. “Today, it is a remembrance of those who fought in that war for what they believed in, and the result of that war made this country what it is today, united, prosperous and respectful. On this hallowed ground, where Americans — not Yankees, not rebels, but Americans died — this cannon is welcome.”

Adrian O’Neal, head of the eastern district of state parks, said the project began because Fort Macon was in need of cannon carriages, which were made of wood and only lasted a few years in the elements.

Johnny Johnson of the parks service came up with the idea of partnering with a community college to build a carriage of aluminum.

“We wanted to save money, but we also wanted it to work into the curriculum and for young folks to get something out of it,” O’Neal said. He said it was surprising how many of the Wayne County students were either reenactors or enthusiastic about the project. Eventually, about 100 students had a hand in the building of the carriage, including engineering, metal shop and welding students.

The cost savings allowed the park service to consider making more carriages or having a working cannon barrel built. They chose the working barrel, which is 20 feet.

He said this was quite a coup for Fort Macon, since its other cannon barrels are fiberglass filled with concrete.

Paul Branch, the ranger from Fort Macon and the author of books on the Civil War, said he knew of a few forts — Fisher in North Carolina and Jackson in Georgia — that have fireable cannons.

“It is huge for us,” he said.

Weather-permitting, the cannon will be mounted Thursday at Fort Macon, with the first firing and dedication Jan. 29.

Kirk Keller, the program manager at Wayne Community College for the project, got an excited response from the crowd when he described firing the cannon with five pounds of black powder.

The cannon itself — the barrel was manufactured at New Windsor, Md. — cost about $19,000. The aluminum gun carriage, fabricated by students, represents roughly $20,000 in materials and engineering fees.

“We estimate that the partnership with the community college saved the state park at least $20,000 over the cost of a replacement wooden gun carriage,” said Charlie Peek, public information officer for the state division of parks and recreation. “Funds for this project originated a couple of years ago from the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund, a portion of which is set aside each year for maintenance of trust fund projects. The state parks system will realize additional savings — from engineering legwork and development of the cannon mold — if more cannons and carriages can be acquired as funds become available.” 

Charlie Hall can be reached at 252-635-5667 or chall@freedomenc.com.