Cannons 1800s: The Athens Double Barreled Cannon

Name: Athen's Double Barreled Cannon
Location: Currently in Athens, Georgia
Designer: John Gilleland (Athens Carpenter/Mechanic)
Built: 1863
Successful: No


This cannon was designed originally to shoot chain shot, which were two cannonballs connected together by a chain. Originally developed by the Spanish, chain shot was used by the Spanish to take out masts on the high seas-- the two cannonballs spin together and create massive amounts of damage, and Gilleland's goal was to take this to the battlefield in a double barreled cannon.

Designed by John Gilleland, this cannon was actually constructed at the Athens Steam Co. and cost about $350 to make. It was designed to shoot, as previously mentioned, two six-pound cannonballs connected by a chain. The bore diameter was 3.67 inches (the bore diameter is the diameter of the smallest point of the cannon's bore, which is the area the projectile travels through as it is shot), and the entire cannon weighed about 1300-1400 pounds.

This single trial cannon however, was the only one of its kind. When Gilleland and his investors in his project first tried out the cannon, the two cannonballs ended up firing at slightly different times which caused them to rocket around each other hectically and plow into the ground, taking out a cornfeild and several saplings until the chain broke and each cannonball went in a different direction. Even when Gilleland got the cannonballs to fire at the same time, the force was so powerful it broke the chain.

Despitre the cannon's shortcomings, Gilleland sent it to the Augusta Arsenal for testing. When the Confederate Colonel in charge sent it back, Gilleland was angry because he believed his cannon performed perfectly. Although the cannon never saw production for the war, several army personnel commented that it shot regular cannonballs and grapeshot very well.

The Athens Double Barreled Cannon was returned to Athens, Georgia, where it saw one small conflict (it shot four shells) and was used as a signal device throughout the war.