A team of archaeologists from the University of South Carolina have raised three Civil War cannons from the Pee Dee River in Mars Bluff, South Carolina. The cannons were the armament of the Confederate gunboat CSS Pee Dee which launched in January of 1865 and was deliberately scuttled by her crew just a month later when defeat seemed imminent. With the impending arrival of General William Tecumseh Sherman’s army fresh from putting Columbia to the torch, the crew jettisoned the ship’s guns into the river, dismantled the boat, set it on fire and set it adrift down the river.

The CSS Albermarle

The three cannons are two Brooke rifles, a 6.4-inch and a 7-inch, and a 9-inch Dahlgren smoothbore which was originally a Union weapon. The cannon was salvaged from the wreck of the USS Southfield after it was sunk by the formidable Confederate ironclad ram CSS Albemarle during the Battle of Plymouth on the Roanoke River in Plymouth, North Carolina, on April 19th, 1864. The Albermarle had been commissioned literally two days earlier and would cut a deadly swath through the Union Navy until she was brought down in October of 1864 by Lieutenant William B. Cushing in a raid so daring it belongs in a Dumas novel.  Indeed, it is well worth it to follow the link and read the incredible tale.

The Dahlgren gun was then salvaged from the wreck of the Albermarle, and later installed on the CSS Pee Dee.

Those appear to be formidable weapons.  I'm always amazed by the idea that the ship should be scuttled to avoid capture, rather than go down fighting.  I guess they were low on ammo or something, as otherwise why not fight to the end, then blow the ship up? Use it to shell Sherman's troops onshore!  If nothing else, ram it into a Union ship and then blow it up.  I wasn't there, so I suppose I shouldn't second guess their decision.

The weapons appear to be in very good condition. They’ve been softly and lovingly treated by the fresh water of the Pee Dee River (only in the South would you name something the "Pee Dee" with a straight face ) and retain identification markers like serial numbers and foundry marks. The cannons have a new home: the Warren Lasch Conservation Center in North Charleston where the CSS Hunley submarine is being conserved. After an estimate two-year process of stabilization and conservation, the cannons will be put on display in the Florence County Museum.  Ahmo swing by and take a look next time I'm in that country.

Via The History Blog