19^th Century Naval Ordnance

Presented by John V. Quarstein, Director, USS Monitor Center

Lecture begins at 2:30 PM

Civil War lectures are free with Museum admission, but reserving a seat is suggested as seating is limited. Reserve seats below.

When Brigadier General Henri Paixhans introduced his concepts of ship-mounted shell guns, he virtually ended the rule of the sea by wooden ships of the line. Paixhans and others like John A.B. Dahlgren, developed guns that could fire explosive shells which tore rugged holes in vessels, send shrapnel and sparks across the decks, causing a wooden warship to burn. The introduction of shellguns and rifled guns to naval warfare prompted the development of ironclads which changed naval warfare forevermore. Technology now rules the waves.

Read more about our Civil War lectures here…