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battles
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Seeking to find design/construction plans or photographs of armored railway car possibly constructed in New Bern, NC. Thank you
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I hope at least some part of the followinginfo will be helpful to you, if you don't already know all of it.
The Confederates had an "armored railway car" in Virginia in early 1862. It carried a 32-pounder caliber (6.4") rifled cannon. It was used in combat during the Seven Days battles (June/July 1862) just east of Richmond, notably at Savage Station.
I've seen 1862-period illustrations of it, and perhaps a photograph many years ago (maybe in "Miller's Photographic History of the Civil War") ...but I don't recall ever seeing any "plan-diagrams" of it. You might find the 1862 illustrations and photos by doing a Google-search.
I don't recall seeing any info linking New Bern NC to that example of the Confederate Armored Railway Car. I'd suspect it was built in Richmond, due to the presence of Tredegar Iron Works in that city. But perhaps it was built (or designed) at New Bern?
Regards,
Pete [P.C. George]
The Confederates had an "armored railway car" in Virginia in early 1862. It carried a 32-pounder caliber (6.4") rifled cannon. It was used in combat during the Seven Days battles (June/July 1862) just east of Richmond, notably at Savage Station.
I've seen 1862-period illustrations of it, and perhaps a photograph many years ago (maybe in "Miller's Photographic History of the Civil War") ...but I don't recall ever seeing any "plan-diagrams" of it. You might find the 1862 illustrations and photos by doing a Google-search.
I don't recall seeing any info linking New Bern NC to that example of the Confederate Armored Railway Car. I'd suspect it was built in Richmond, due to the presence of Tredegar Iron Works in that city. But perhaps it was built (or designed) at New Bern?
Regards,
Pete [P.C. George]
B
battles
Guest
Source: Armored Trains, by Steven J. Zaloga. 2008. Osprey Publishing, 443 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10016, Page 5.
"The American Civil War also saw significant use of armored trains in combat. The first American armored train was built to patrol the railways north of Baltimore against Confederate saboteurs, the earliest example of armored trains performing their classic role of antipartisan warfare. In June, 1862, the Confederate commander, Gen. Robert E. Lee instructed the commander of his artillery to construct a railway gun wagon. A Confederate Navy officer placed a 32 pdr on a four-axle railcar protected by a wall of inclined steel rails and this armored battery was used in combat during the Seven Days' Battle near Savage Station (June 25 - July 1, 1862). The Union built a larger version in 1864 using a Parrott gun, and during the siege of Vicksburg in 1864 a 13-inch mortar was mounted on a railcar. These developments were noticed in Europe and during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71 the Compagnie d'Orleans built an armored train with two armored wagons for 140 mm guns, and used this vehicle during the siege of Paris."
I have received additional information from a colleague in New Bern. However, our efforts to prove the construction of a monitor car in New Bern has eluded us. Certainly, New Bern's large railroad depot and foundry could have support such construction.
Thank you for your interest and the information you provided.
"The American Civil War also saw significant use of armored trains in combat. The first American armored train was built to patrol the railways north of Baltimore against Confederate saboteurs, the earliest example of armored trains performing their classic role of antipartisan warfare. In June, 1862, the Confederate commander, Gen. Robert E. Lee instructed the commander of his artillery to construct a railway gun wagon. A Confederate Navy officer placed a 32 pdr on a four-axle railcar protected by a wall of inclined steel rails and this armored battery was used in combat during the Seven Days' Battle near Savage Station (June 25 - July 1, 1862). The Union built a larger version in 1864 using a Parrott gun, and during the siege of Vicksburg in 1864 a 13-inch mortar was mounted on a railcar. These developments were noticed in Europe and during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71 the Compagnie d'Orleans built an armored train with two armored wagons for 140 mm guns, and used this vehicle during the siege of Paris."
I have received additional information from a colleague in New Bern. However, our efforts to prove the construction of a monitor car in New Bern has eluded us. Certainly, New Bern's large railroad depot and foundry could have support such construction.
Thank you for your interest and the information you provided.