Immense Projectiles

Eight solid cast iron balls were lately sent from Pittsburgh for the great 15-inch Rodman gun at Fortress Monroe.  It had been intended to use shells chiefly in this gun, to avoid undue strain upon it, but the solid shot are furnished to crush in the sides of the Merrimac should she attempt to pass out into the Chesapeake.  Such shot at 200 yards range, would crush all through the sides of the strongest iron clad frigate yet built.

– Published in the Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, April 12, 1862, p. 2