The York, Maine 6.4” Parrott rifle naval cannon is a muzzle loading rifled barrel artillery weapon made in 1863 at the West Point Foundry in Cold Spring, N. Y. Cannons of this type were used extensively in the American Civil War.   During that time, the foundry employed more than 1,200 workers which was about 2.5 times its pre-1861 level. Unlike cannons with a smooth bore, this artillery piece had spiral grooves (rifling) cut along the barrel bore’s length, much like a modern rifle or pistol. Smooth bore cannons were like muskets and shotguns. Those firearms are adequate for short range but lack accuracy for longer distances.

Parrott rifles were manufactured in different sizes, from l0-pounders up to a 300-pounder. The letters “Pdr” (pounder) with a number in front of it indicate the maximum weight of the round the cannon could safety shoot. That also designates the size of the gun that shot that projectile. In the field, the l0 and 20-pounders were used by both armies. The 20-pounder was the largest field gun used during the Civil War, with the barrel alone weighing over 1,800 pounds. York’s cannon weighs 9,672 pounds and when elevated to 25 degrees and using a 10 Pound black powder charge could shoot a 100-pound shell 3.2 miles (6,900 yds) with a 37 second flight time. At sea, this naval cannon required a 17-man crew (including a powder man) to operate and like all naval artillery, it was painted gloss black.

Information was gathered from York Town Records, public documents and private sources.

c. Michael A. Dow 2025