Henry Seale
River battery at Sumter County
Mon Dec 4 09:40:49 2000


Many years ago my father showed me what was the remains of a Confederate gun emplacement on the Tombigbee River near what in earlier years was known as Moscow Ferry just below what was then at that time "Rooster Bridge"(old U.S. Hwy 80)on the Sumter County side of the river on a bluff. I remember that I could easily determine the gun emplacements, but I cannot recall how many there were, either two or three. No one seems to know anything about this emplacement. I am certain there was never any engagement there, but I have been curious for years about the history of this emplacement.
There is a large smoothbore cannon, a 24-pounder I think, probably of pre-war manufacture w/ U.S. markings at the Sumter County Courthouse that I believe was recovered from the river below the aforementioned emplacement somewhere around 1900. I have discovered a mate to this gun at Vicksburg Military Park near the Alabama Memorial that has a consecutive serial number. Could this also be a gun that was at this emplacement at Sumter County?
Any Information would be appreciated.

• While we're talking artillery in Alabama... — Hayes Lowe, Tue Dec 5 08:37
• captured artillery — Homer Jones, Tue Dec 5 11:57
• Source — Hayes Lowe, Tue Dec 5 21:16
• Artillery captured at Sipsey River — Hayes Lowe, Tue Dec 5 16:47
• Works at Moscow Landing — Dave Neel, Tue Dec 5 07:02
• Sumter guns. — Hayes Lowe, Mon Dec 4 16:41
• Sumter Guns — Henry Seale, Mon Dec 4 18:16
• Sumter guns — Hayes Lowe, Mon Dec 4 18:58