Last updated: December 16, 2023
Place
Information Panel: Shot and Shell
NPS/ Claire Hassler
Quick Facts
Location:
38.711107, -77.035301
Amenities
1 listed
Information
Fort Washington's solid masonry walls offered good protection against shot from smoothbore cannon of the early 19th century.
When rifled artillery was introduced in the late 1850s and used during the Civil War, effectiveness of masonry structures decreased. The new weapons fired projectiles that fit the bore tightly and were given a stabiliting spin by the grooves in the barrel.
These improvements gave the rifled guns a range, accuracy, and hitting-power nearly three times greater than the smoothbore cannon of the early 19th century.
When rifled artillery was introduced in the late 1850s and used during the Civil War, effectiveness of masonry structures decreased. The new weapons fired projectiles that fit the bore tightly and were given a stabiliting spin by the grooves in the barrel.
These improvements gave the rifled guns a range, accuracy, and hitting-power nearly three times greater than the smoothbore cannon of the early 19th century.