The T.M. Brennan foundry, located in Nashville and owned by Thomas Brennan, consisted of an extensive foundry and machine shop prior to the war and engaged in the manufacture of machinery, steam engines, boilers, saw mills, mill gearing, and ornamental castings.  In May 1861, the State of Tennessee contracted with the firm for two batteries of iron cannon, each consisting of four 6-pounders and two 12-pound howitzers, and thus T.M. Brennan and Company began manufacturing cannon and munitions.  The foundry continued in this role until the fall of Nashville in February, 1862.  During this time T.M. Brennan produced a large number of iron cannon for the Western Division of the Confederacy.  Orders were so numerous that, at times, the foundry was unable to complete all of them and the orders had to be sent to Memphis.  In order to increase its output, T.M. Brennan and Company often sent unfinished castings to a Clarksville, Tennessee, foundry (Whitfield, Bradley, and Company)  for boring out, turning up, dressing, and finishing.

In September of 1862, Thomas Brennan sent a communication to General Leonidas Polk stating that he was "getting up patterns for a very complete, rifling machine which will rifle guns of any caliber."  A spy had been sent north to the Fort Pitt Foundry where he obtained the proper drawings and specifications that allowed Brennan's mechanics to set up the machine.  It was later removed to Atlanta.

When Nashville fell to the Union in February, 1862, many of the cannon in production at the foundry were evacuated to Atlanta.  Eyewitnesses report that this evacuation was not complete and some unfinished castings remained in Nashville.  Brennan was arrested by Federal authorities and tried for treason for his role in Confederate arms production.

A few of the T.M. Brennan weapons survive.  The following table lists the types and places where these pieces can be found:
 
 

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Last update: June 8, 2000