THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF
CIVIL WAR ARTILLERY

MORTARS

Mortars, whether chambered or not, are a very simple form of ordnance, intended for lobbing heavy projectiles at a high elevation, typically referred to as "indirect" or "plunging" fire. Their mobility is limited, except for the Coehorn, the smallest member of the family, which could be carried by two to four men.
12-pounder wooden mortar Made of oak and iron bands, mortars like this one were used at Petersburg to fire 12-pounder shell at Confederate positions prior to the availability of a sufficient number of 24-pounder Coehorn mortars.

24-pounder bronze Coehorn mortar, Model of 1838. Total length, 16.32 inches; weight, 164 pounds; total production, 279; known survivors, 100.

24-pounder iron Confederate Coehorn mortar Total length, unknown, but approximately 18 inches; weight, unknown but estimated at approximately 165 pounds; total production, 49 by Tredegar, 9 by Selma, unknown quantity by an unspecified foundry in Mobile AL; known survivors, 5. Tredegar Foundry also made 26 of a smaller 12-pounder version, but there is no known survivor.

8-inch siege mortar, Model of 1840. Total length, 22.5 inches; weight, 925 pounds; total production, 41; known survivors, 5.

8-inch siege mortar, Model of 1861. Total length, 23.25 inches; weight, 1,050 pounds; total production, 170; known survivors, 94.

10-inch siege mortar, circa 1807. Total length, 31.25 inches; weight, unknown; total production, unknown quantity by Henry Foxall; known survivors, 2.

10-inch siege mortar, Model of 1840. Total length, 28.0 inches; weight, 1,800 pounds; total production, 98; known survivors, 16.

10-inch siege mortar, Model of 1861. Total length, 29.25 inches; weight, 1,900 pounds; total production, 150; known survivors, 53.

10-inch seacoast mortar, circa 1807. Total length, 45.625-inches; weight, 3,860 pounds; total production, unknown quantity by Henry Foxall; known survivor, 1. The single known survivor at Fort Sumter may be that which fired the first shot of the Civil War.

10-inch seacoast mortar, Model of 1840. Total length, 46.0 inches; weight, 5,575 pounds; total production, 33; known survivors, 5. Two very similar larger versions of this mortar were cast with a total length of 53.0 inches. One was bored 12 inches and weighed 11,582 pounds; the other was bored 13 inches and weighed 11,502 pounds. Neither is known to survive nor has a reproducible photo been located.

10-inch seacoast mortar, Model of 1861. Total length, 49.25 inches; weight, 7,300 pounds; total production, 8; known survivors, 2.

13-inch seacoast and Navy mortar, Model of 1861. Total length, 56.5 inches; weight, 17,250 pounds; total production, 162; known survivors, 27. The the most well-known specimen of this class was the Dictator.

16-inch bronze stone mortar, Model of 1839. Total length, 31 inches; weight, 1,515 pounds; total production, 2; known survivor, 1.

Replica 13-inch seacoast mortar, Model of 1861, owned by Paulson Brothers Ordnance, firing at Fort McCoy, WI. Note shell in flight at top of photo, and the muzzle flash.

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