Nichols gun question

[navygunner]

while reading thru the ORN's came across a nichols gun being sent to a Texas Marine Brigade gunbost, evidently it was deemed useless and shipped back to the CSA ord dept. anyone know about this weapon?

[cannonmn]

Never heard of a gun by that name.  However, in the National Archives I found brief descriptions and drawings of a pair of very odd guns recovered by the USN in Texas after the CW.  They were made from the propellor shaft of a steamer.  "Westfield" sticks in my mind-might be the name of the steamer.  I remember the drawings, about the oddest looking guns I'd ever seen.  Maybe I'll get a chance to look for my photos of those drawings tomorrow.  Any more info you can provide as far as dates, places, etc. might help us see if we're talking about same thing.  If there was only ever one of the Nichols guns, we're out of luck because this was definitely a pair of identical guns.

[navygunner]

The reference is  ORN Series I vol.20, West Gulf Blockading Squadron (Mar 15th 1863-Dec 31st 1863) pg. 984. After reading it a couple more times I'm of the persuasion that Nichols was the manufacturer of the gun. In mentioning both his Parrots and this Nichols gun both of the companies are capitalized. At first I had thought it was a gun taken from a ship named Nichols but all ships name seem to be in italics throughout the OR's. He also complained about dry rot in the carriages because his El Dragon brass 18 pounder trail broke off at the cheeks. Another entry on page 142 refers to a Butler rifle throwing a 1 pound shell, again with the manufacturer's (?) name capitalized.

geo

[cannonmn]

El Dragon brass 18 pounder

Now that's interesting!  What that means to me is that he had an old Spanish bronze gun with the given name "El Dragon" on the chase.  There wasn't any class of Spanish cannon called by that name, so it must be the proper name of that particular gun.  Wonder if it survived all the scrap drives and is sitting in a town square somewhere?

[navygunner]

The "Butler rifle" is very interesting because i can't find anything on it. Was this a converted swivel cannon? The one pound projectile lends some creedence to it? It's on page 142 of the same volume. The USS William G Anderson 2nd cutter was armed with it. Any help on this one would be greatly appreciated Cannonmn. Have been trying to prove the use of swivels on ships boats.

[cannonmn]

Have been trying to prove the use of swivels on ships boats.

I'll start looking for the Butler Rifle references, can't say I've heard of it before.

On the issue of swivels on ship's boats, I can't really help you there either, but Gilkerson's BOARDERS AWAY II, With Fire is an excellent reference on swivels, I think he must have 30 pages or so and dozens and dozens of illustrations.  Most of what he says is good to go as far as I'm concerned.

[navygunner]

Thanks!!! The only 1 pounder rifle I'm familar with would have been the Williams gun and that was confederate.

[guardsgunner]

navygunner,
   I came accross some info on the Nickols gun while researching the Hughes gun. C.V. mag. 1927.
Was tested on 9/19/1861
1.250 bore
Breech-loading firing a 1lb minie ball with 3 oz powder. Extreme range at 15 degrees 3-4 miles.
4' long. Wrought iron and rifled.
self priming.(must be navy /sharps style pelletts.)
Used to shell the Santee at about 3 miles.
Puts it in the same class as the Hughs and Ellsworths guns.

[navygunner]

Thanx Guardsgunner gives me another avenue to look down.
NG

[guardsgunner]

 navygunner ,
    I think it is possible that the Butler rifle reference is to one of the Ellsworth guns the Gen. Butler personaly purchased before leaving for La.  Only time I have seen it mentioned and the time frame is right.

RCHJr.

[navygunner]

That thought crossed my mind also. Thanks again Guardsgunner.

geo