Fort Sumter–Fort Moultrie Adopt-A-Cannon Celebration

By Jim Thompson · Originally published January 2018 · p. 13

NPS Ranger Dawn Davis with Adopt-A-Cannon project manager Jim Thompson.

CHARLESTON, S.C.—On Sunday, Nov. 19, 2017, a celebration was held at Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor to recognize a major gift of $200,000 to preserve six of the existing eleven Parrott Rifles and their carriages in need of major refurbishment. The gift was made to the Fort Sumter-Fort Moultrie Historical Trust by the Chris and Debbie Swain Family Trust in honor of Chris Swain’s deceased father David C. Swain Sr., an artillery soldier who grew up on nearby Sullivan’s Island. The Fort Sumter-Fort Moultrie Historical Trust has had an active public support campaign, “Adopt-A-Cannon” since 2013 as a result of a suggestion by (now retired) NPS Superintendent Tim Stone. What began as a single preservation effort for an 1848 cannon at Fort Moultrie on Sullivan’s Island morphed into the successful preservation of two more cannon at Fort Moultrie and progressed to preserving three more guns at Fort Sumter, two of which are confirmed “witness cannon” to the Civil War battle for the fort. These were the “low hanging fruit.” The biggest challenges were Fort Sumter’s eleven Parrott guns and original carriages that were losing their war against the salty maritime air of Charleston Harbor. What had been possible for cannon preservation for $6,000 each now became $18,000 for each gun with carriage. The Historical Trust committed to preserving six of the eleven, solely on the faith that the Adopt-ACannon program would continue to attract public support. It found it’s faith well placed as Chris Swain, a graduate of The Citadel, and his wife Debbie stepped up via their family trust to donate $200,000 to make sure the preservation work gets done, all in honor and memory of Chris’ father, David C. Swain Sr. The preservation work is being done on-site through agreements with Clemson University’s Warren-Lasch Laboratory in North Charleston where their work to restore the Hunley continues, the National Park Service and the Fort Sumter-Fort Moultrie Historical Trust, the Friends group of the local NPS. Historian Rick Hatcher describes manufacturing data of the Parrott Rifles revealed during the preservation process.

Historian Rick Hatcher describes manufacturing data of the Parrott Rifles revealed during the preservation process. (All photos by Jack Melton)

Chris and Debbie Swain with their two sons at the close of the ceremony.

Sons of Chris & Debbie Swain unveil the plaque that honors their grandfather.

The plaque as requested by major donors Chris and Debbie Swain to honor Chris’ father. The mobile plaque will be strategically placed as the preservation work continues before being permanently placed in the museum at Fort Sumter.