Selma, Alabama historical marker describes famous Civil War cannon

Selma's Brooke Rifle and Historical Marker

This week’s featured historical marker is the “VII IN. BROOKE RIFLE #S-5” marker in Selma, Alabama. The marker is located on Broad Street in front of Selma City Hall, which sits on the former site of the old Hotel Albert.

This marker was erected by the Alabama Historical Association in 2008. There’s text on both sides of this marker, and both sides are unique. What follows is the complete text from the marker.

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“VII IN. BROOKE RIFLE #S-5: Cast Aug. 24, 1863 in Selma at the Confederate Naval Gun Foundry under direction of Commander Catesby ap R. Jones. Was first gun shipped from the Selma Foundry. Served as stern pivot gun on the Selma-built ironclad ram CSS Tennessee. During the Battle of Mobile Bay the wounding of Admiral Franklin Buchanan and the deaths of both men killed aboard the Tennessee occurred at this gun. This is the only surviving naval gun from the Battle of Mobile Bay located in what was the Confederate States of America. (Continued on other side)”

“VII IN. BROOKE RIFLE #S-5: (Continued from other side) Designed by Lt. John M. Brooke CSN ‘to be used against Iron-Clads,’ Weight: 15,300 lbs, Length: 12 feet, 3-1/2 inches; Range, 7,900 yards (4-1/2 miles), Brooke Rifles were reported accurate enough to ‘hit a barrel at a mile every pop.’ Captured by the Federal Navy Aug. 5, 1864 and taken to U.S. Navy Yard in Washington, D.C. Returned on loan in 1981 to the Selma-Dallas County Museum of History and Archives from the Naval Historical Center.”

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If you travel to Selma today to see this impressive cannon and historical marker, be sure to step around behind the cannon, on the opposite side from the street, where you’ll see another plaque that’s affixed to the base of the cannon. It reads as follows:

“The Selma-Dallas County Museum of History and Archives Recognizes the Following Individuals and Organizations For Their Commitment to the Care and Preservation Of this Historic Artifact: Mr. William H. DeRamus, Dr. Jerry D. Dillard, Mr. Ted Henry, Mr. and Mrs. Catesby ap R. Jones and Family*, Mr. Catesby ap C. Jones and Family*, Mr. and Mrs. James ap R. Jones and Family*, Mrs. Edris D. Jones*, Judge Thomas ap R. Jones and Family*, Mr. Todd Kiscaden, Drs. Wylie and Monica Newton, Mr. David Summerlin, Mr. and Mrs. Chuck Yeargan and Family, Mr. and Mrs. John Randolph Smith Jr. and Family*, Col. C.C. Pegues, Camp No. 62, Sons of Confederate Veterans, Friends of Lt. General Nathan B. Forrest, Kiwanis Club of Selma, Selma-Dallas County Historic Preservation Society, *Descendents of Commander Catesby ap R. Jones CSN; Benjamin A. Austin, Brooke Project Chairman and Museum Director; Donna Wiltsie, Chairman Museum Board of Directors; Jean T. Martin, Museum Curator, 2008.”

In the end, visit this site next Wednesday to learn about another historical marker. I’m also taking suggestions from the reading audience, so if you know of an interesting historical marker that you’d like me to feature, let me know in the comments section below.