Double-barreled cannon
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The double-barreled cannon is a unique American Civil War-era experimental weapon and is now a modern landmark located in Athens, Georgia. While originally built for warfare, the cannon never saw battle.
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[edit] History
[edit] Concept
In 1862 John Gilleland, dentist, builder and mechanic, designed the only known double-barreled cannon in existence. It was cast in Athens, Georgia, for a cost of $350. The two barrels have a divergence of 3 degrees, and the cannon was designed to shoot simultaneously two cannon balls connected with a chain to "mow the enemy down like scythe cuts wheat". Shooting cannon balls connected with a chain was commonly done in naval warfare, but these chain-shots were fired from a single barrel and were designed to cut down the enemy ship's masts and rigging.
[edit] Execution
Gilleland's invention was a failure. On 22 April 1862, the cannon was tested for the first time. The cannon was aimed at a target of two upright poles, but uneven detonation of the powder and casting imperfections in the barrels gave the connected balls a spinning movement in an off-center direction, destroying a cornfield and damaging some trees before the chain broke and one ball damaged a chimney and the other one killed a cow. It was reported that "the observers scattered as though the entire Yankee Army had been turned loose in that vicinity".
[edit] Civil War use
Gilleland tried to promote his invention to the Confederate States Army's arsenal in Augusta, Georgia, where it was found unfit for its purpose. He continued to try to promote his invention to other military leaders around Augusta, but failed to interest anyone. Finally his contraption was used as a signal gun in Athens to warn against advancing Yankees.
On 27 July 1864, the cannon was fired after a report was heard of several thousand Union soldiers approaching Monroe, Georgia. However, this report turned out to be false. The cannon disappeared in 1891 and was found again ten years later under a rock pile by a boy looking for lizards.
[edit] Modern use
Currently, the cannon is on display on the front lawn of the City Hall of Athens, Georgia. A local landmark and public curiosity, the cannon is one of the most popular and well known attractions in the city. The cannon is still pointing northward in a symbolic gesture of defiance against the North it was built to fight.
[edit] External links
- The Athens Clarke County Virtual Tour Page about the double-barreled cannon.
- An extensive article about the history of the double-barreled cannon.
