[Griswold]

That's Parrott with 2 t's - for Robert Parker Parrott, of Cold Spring, New York. He made field and siege artillery pieces in 10, 20 30, 100 and 300 pdr. varieties. Also naval versions. They were the "Saturday nite Special" of Union artillery during the War. In Hawg's picture, note the breech reinforce (wrought iron), sweated over a cast-iron tube. A recipie for disaster, in many cases, and many of the larger ones (above 20 pdr.), but even some of those guns did burst in service. There's your "exploding Parrot"- Griswold