The resonant, low frequencies rumbling up and down County Road 11’s nooks and crannies on a Thursday in December could easily have been mistaken for the sonic boom of a fighter jet, or loud thunder claps traveling outward from a lightning strike to those unaware of their source.
Fortunately, it wasn’t lighting, or some unexpected military operation that created the low-frequency rumbles, it was a fully functioning, historically accurate replica cannon. To be more specific, an “1861 3-inch Ordnance Rifle (Model 1861)” recently acquired by lifelong Meeker resident Steven Brickey. He presented the weapon to a small crowd of Meeker town officials and invited residents over the weekend to demonstrate the cannon’s firepower, provide an exciting glimpse into Civil War-era history, and last but not least, test how loud it was.
The HT can say, based on experience, that the ordnance rifle is very loud. Those volumes can be dampened for specific purposes, such as firing during an event like Range Call or other public usage. During such an event, Stevie said gun operators would use special materials to load and fire the weapon as a way of reducing noise while preserving the authentic feel of the gun.
The 1861’s normal shot would have a projectile (up to 10lbs.) fired by a 1lb. black-powder charge. According to Brickey and other sources, the gun could accurately fire such a projectile up to two miles away. “It’ll hit the door of a barn,” he said, noting that at 1,000 yards the cannon’s accuracy increases to “be able to hit the side of a newspaper.”
The accuracy of the weapon represented a step up from previous, similar cannons (like the Napoleon) and a step up in weapons manufacturing in general, which is why it became so prominent during the Civil War. Harbor Iron Works superintendent John Griffen designed the weapon, using a process of tightly winding a bunch of wrought iron bars and then drilling out the center of the bundle to get the barrel, which also is a major reason for accuracy improvements.
The manufacturing process and all-around design also meant better mobility and increased safety for artillerymen who sometimes wound up victims of their own cannons in misfirings, and explosions in the breaches/structural integrity caused by manufacturing deficiency, overuse or other problems linked to inferior design standards and improper operation.
Brickey noted how far things have come by showing some of the details of his cannon which was built with an inner core of high-quality steel treated for 85,000 pounds-per-square-inch (psi) surrounded by a ductile iron, which he explained is a much stronger and more common type of iron used in modern manufacturing. The danger of accidentally causing an explosion at the wrong time is still real, however, which is why operating the ordnance rifle requires vigilant attention to detail for safety and efficacy.
Firing a cannon: the process
1. Clean excess material from the barrel
– To do this, one person has to cover the vent-hole/airhole on the back of the cannon
– Another person then cleans the inside of the barrel with a wet sponge
2. Use plenty of water
– Use the tight fit of the wet sponge to push all air into and back out of the inner barrel
– Remember this step is not just about cleaning but extinguishing any embers that might still be in the barrel, which could lead to a premature explosion if not dealt with
3. Load the charge
– If you have already fired the cannon, clean out any debris left over the the previous round using the “worm” tool
– Assuming you haven’t already fired the cannon:
– Pack your black powder charge in “heavy-duty foil” according to application and diameter of the gun
– Load the charge into the cannon, pushing it to the back with no air gap
– Load the projectile into the barrel up against the powder charge
4. Set your fuse/primer
– Use a “vent-prick” to pierce the powder charge bag at the back of the cannon and insert your primer, or fuse
– Friction primers can fire the gun simply by pulling a lanyard, igniting their charge instantly. They are very effective and predictable, but pricey
– Old-fashioned fuses are “notoriously unreliable” according to Brickey, but he still uses them sometimes, like at least once over the weekend, because they’re cheap.
5. Aim the cannon
6. Fire in the hole! Clear! Shoot the projectile
7. Don’t forget to wear ear protection!
BY LUCAS TURNER
Special to the Herald
