Military
As U.S. Navy Lieutenant Egbert Thompson cautiously brought the U.S. gunboat Pittsburgh nearer and nearer to the fort, his crew continued firing shell, reducing the fifteen-second to the five-second fuse, and by 4:15 p.m., within four hundred fifty yards of the fort, had expended one hundred eleven rounds, throwing one hundred five shells and six of grape. When Thompson learned that the Pittsburgh was taking on water so fast that her pumps could not keep up, he reversed engines, and sailors hauled the heavy bow cannon all the way back to the stern to keep the gunboat afloat.
Hear stories like this as you drive
ExploreHere reads historical markers out loud as you pass them: over 325,000 stories across the US. No account needed.
4.7 · 800+ ratings · Free
FIND IT
Dover, Tennessee · United States
