| Thomas Jefferson Rodman...achieved fame during the Civil War for numerous new and advanced designs of cannons or Columbiads. These new guns were referred to as "Rodman Guns". In 1861 Rodman's "Lincoln Gun" a 15 inch, 49,000 pound cannon was tested successfully and was consider the largest cannon in the world. That is, until he built the most famous Rodman Gun of all...a monstrous 20 inch muzzle loader that fired a 1,000 pound solid shot and weighed 80 tons. Needless to say, these cannons were practical only for fixed positions in forts or permanent batteries. |
