July 7, 2025 · 6:04 pm
These are REAL Civil Warfare cannons set into the facet of a wall to bolster it towards assault. As outdated cannons cracked or had been broken in battle they had been moved a number of toes from their prior place and constructed instantly into the wall offering a fair stronger fortress.
Welcome again to the Civil Warfare Fort Zachary Taylor utilized by the Northern Yankee Troops throughout the complete conflict. Most discover it laborious to consider that the southernmost metropolis in the USA was a Yankee stronghold as an alternative of held by the Insurgent south.
This weblog will focus on the higher parts of the fort the place the cannons as soon as stood prepared in protection of this nation. The higher deck may be very large in components to accommodate the huge measurement and variety of cannons wanted to repel undesirable advances on its sovereignty. Pictured are a variety of these former cannon positions, discover the half-moon oval-shaped iron plates constructed into the ground. These enabled the again of the cannon to be pushed into place in both path by wheels that sat horizontally beneath it. The massive sq. steel plates alternatively served because the central pivot level for every cannon. You too can see that these cannons had been side-by-side and two rows deep in some locations.
You may ask, “How may they’ve seen or shot the opposition forces via the bushes?”. Properly, I guarantee you it was added later as landfill because the forts want diminished and the town wanted extra land. Additionally proven under are massive iron rings generally referred to as titties that had been used to tie off & transfer tools across the higher deck. And YES, I’ve heard the entire “Large Knocker” jokes earlier than! 🙂 Lastly are a number of manually hand cranked elevators used to carry up munitions from a decrease protected storage space.
This fort is AWESOME and almost NO ONE ever makes it right here staying most of their journey centralized round Duval Avenue. So get out and see this historic Civil Warfare Fort Zachary Taylor… you received’t remorse it! You could find the fort within the space of city referred to as the Previous Navy Pier and price approx. $4 (1 particular person) or $7.50 (2 individuals) for an all day cross that may once more be used at sundown.
