The design, of the 3" Ordnance Rifle was highly initiative. The construction of the barrel was time consuming because strips of wrought iron were wrapped by a lathe around an iron core. In all five layers were built before the core was removed and a plug driven into the breech. This closed the breech and formed the cascabel (this was the knob on the end of the gun tube). The entire mass was then heated to a welding temperature and rolled before the bore was reamed out. The distinguishing exterior features were a sleek and clean design coupled with a lightweight. This did not reveal the incredible accuracy due to the 0.5" grooves. The usual charge for a 9 pound shell was one pound of gunpowder. At 10 degrees of elevations extreme accuracy was achieved at a range of 2788 yards. Because of the weight, this gun could be easily transported and unlimbered for fast use.

Eventually, the Phoenix Iron Company supplied the US Army with 1100 guns by the wars end. Southern copies of the 3" Ordnance Rifle were made in very limited numbers. Noble Brothers & Company of Rome, Georgia managed to make 18. Therefore, most of these field pieces used by the Confederate army were obtained by capture. Artillery officers on both sided praised the endurance and efficiency of these cannons. Confederate Artilleryman Col. E. Porter Alexander mentioned them as "The Beautiful United States Ordnance Rifles."

(Click here to go back)