Confederate Adjutant General button	The Civil War Relicman, Harry Ridgeway
	Winchester, Virginia USA (changed hands 70 times in the Civil War!) I am a collector buying and selling authentic Civil War Relics
	This page updated   April 03, 2008

The Ridgeway Civil War reference archive 
Artillery shells, Read (Confederate)

This is a sampling of relics collected by Harry Ridgeway over the years.  This archive record is for educational purposes only.  Some of the relics listed may be on display at the Old Court House Civil War Museum, Winchester Virginia, some are no longer owned by the author.  None of the items listed in this section are for sale, please refer to the separate sales catalog for items that are currently offered.

All artillery items listed  have been disarmed and rendered inert. 

A2008     Read shell, copper sabot, wood fuse, Confederate unknown gun 2.6 in. 

There has been a good bit of speculation as to what gun this was intended for, possibly a captured Wiard 2.6 in., it is a rare caliber for a Confederate shell. High band copper sabot, shell was cast for a wood fuse, some variation of the machining of a groove between the sabot and the body of the shell..
Unfired example, good metal.
Recovered: cache found at Adams Run, Charleston, SC
Diameter 2.55 in., length 7.4 in.
Ref: D & G pg. 237

A1895     Read smooth long shell, wrought iron sabot, wood time fuse, Confederate rifle, 2.9 in. 
 
Wrought iron sabot was cast much thinner than the Federal counterpart, tall smooth side copied from Federal patterns, cast for wood time fuse, lathe dimple in the base, 
Wrought iron sabot intact, wood shipping plug used to keep the powder dry is fully intact, this is unfired example, unusually prominent lathe dimple, exceptional metal 
Recovered: not known 
Diameter 2.86 inch, length 8.75 inch 
Ref: D & G pg. 243 (iron sabot, wood fuse)

A1898     Read smooth long shell, wrought iron sabot, copper time fuse, Confederate rifle, 2.9 in. 

Wrought iron sabot was cast much thinner than the Federal counterpart, tall smooth side copied from Federal patterns, cast for threaded time fuse, casting sprue on nose, lathe dimple in the base. 
Confederate copper time fuse, two spanner holes, (Jones pg. 41) 
Sabot intact, unusual thickness and height, copper time fuse intact, prominent lathe dimple and casting sprue, metal is solid, moderate pitting. 
Recovered: not known 
Diameter 2.86 inch, length 9 inch 
Ref: D & G pg. 243 (iron sabot, copper fuse) 

A1555     Read long bourreleted shell, high convex wrought iron sabot, copper time fuse, Confederate 2.9 inch rifle 

Wrought iron sabot was cast much thinner than the Federal counterpart, this one is also tall and highly convex, light bourrelet rings may be intentional or could be machining errors, cast for copper time fuse. Copper time fuse intact, sabot is intact, metal good, moderate pitting only. 
Recovered: Gettysburg, early pickup 
Diameter 2.85 inch, length 8.5 in. 
Ref: Dickey & George pg. 247   

A1420        Read long "sleeved" side loader shell, iron ring sabot, copper time fuse, Confederate rifle, 2.9 in. 

Shell body was milled to specifications, the area near the nose and base were deeper, giving the appearance of a "sleeve", width will vary considerably, late war example was cast for a side loading plug, convex iron ring sabot, threaded for a copper time fuse. Confederate copper time fuse, two spanner holes, (Jones pg. 41) 
Iron sabot intact, copper time fuse intact, lead sideplug, lathe dimple in base, shell is moderately pitted, nose shows a small crack. 
Found by Bill Ritenour, Battle of Wilderness Va 
Diameter 2.85 inch, length 8.5 inch 
Ref: D & G pg. 248 (side plug, iron sabot, copper fuse)  

A1528    Read bourreleted rounded nose bolt, thick copper sabot, Confederate rifle, 3 in.

Read bolt features rounded nose, bourrelet rings, and very thick sabot. Shell may have been cast at Selma, marked "14" on the bourrelet ring, meaning not known. Sabot intact, good metal minor pitting only, mark "14" is crisp. 
Recovered: Snyder's Bluff Mississippi ammo dump 
Diameter 2.98 inch, length 6.1 inch 
Ref: D & G pg. 252  

A1421    Read bourreleted pointed nose bolt, thin copper sabot, Confederate rifle, 3 in. 

Read bolt features pointed nose, bourrelet rings, thin copper sabot, and thick knob base, could have been Selma manufacture. High brass sabot shows 6 lands and grooves, not sure what gun fired this, although the odd number of grooves could have been caused by slippage in the bore, outstanding metal 
Found by Bill Ritenour, Chancellorsville Va 
Diameter 2.94 inch, length 6.37 inch 
Ref: D & G pg. 254 

A0083    Read bourreleted shell, thin copper ring tapered sabot copper time fuse, Confederate rifle, 3 in. 

"Virginia" bourreleted Read shell. As a labor saving device, only the bourrelet rings had to be exactly machined, the rest could be left rough. Copper ring sabot is tapered to a thin lip, base shows a lathe dimple, casting sprue on nose is generally milled off but noticeable, cast for a copper time fuse, manufactured at Tredegar, Richmond Va. 
Confederate copper time fuse, two spanner holes, (Jones pg. 41).
Copper time fuse is intact, fired sabot is intact showing 7 lands and grooves, prominent casting sprue, metal is good minor pitting only. 
Recovered: Spotsylvania County, Virginia 
Diameter 2.95 inch, length 7.5 inch 
Ref: D & G pg. 257 (copper fuse) 

A1890    Read bourreleted shell, thin copper ring tapered sabot wood time fuse, Confederate rifle, 3 in. 

"Virginia" bourreleted Read shell. As a labor saving device, only the bourrelet rings had to be exactly machined, the rest could be left rough. Copper ring sabot is tapered to a thin lip, sabot is not milled, rounded base shows a lathe dimple, casting sprue on nose is generally milled off but noticeable, manufactured at Tredegar, Richmond Va 
Cast for a wood time fuse.
Wood time fuse is partial, fired sabot is intact showing 7 lands and grooves, metal is good minor pitting only. 
Recovered: Cold Harbor, Virginia 
Diameter 2.95 inch, length 7.5 inch 
Ref: D & G pg. 257 (wood fuse)  

A1540    Read bourreleted shell, thick copper ring tapered sabot copper time fuse, Confederate rifle, 3 in. 
 
"Atlanta" bourreleted Read shell. As a labor saving device, only the bourrelet rings had to be exactly machined, the rest could be left rough. Copper ring sabot was cast to a thick lip, then milled to a tapered edge, base shows a lathe dimple and is usually relatively flat, casting sprue on nose is generally milled off but noticeable, cast for a copper time fuse, believed to have been manufactured in Georgia. 
Confederate copper time fuse, two spanner holes, (Jones pg. 41)
Copper time fuse is intact, fired sabot intact showing 7 lands and grooves, prominent casting sprue, metal is good minor pitting only. 
Recovered: Atlanta Georgia campaign 
Diameter 2.95 inch, length 7.5 inch 
Ref: D & G pg. 261 

A1534    Read bourreleted bolt, Selma manufacture, copper ring sabot, Confederate 3.25 or 3.3 inch gun 
 
There is some confusion as to exactly which gun this was intended, 3.25 or 3.3 inch gun, machining is not precise enough to tell. The flat knob base, fat bourrelet rings and high convex copper sabot are indicative of Selma manufacture. Unfired example with sabot intact, excellent metal minimum pitting, good casting flaws indicated of late war Confederate manufacture. 
Recovered: O'Conee river cache near Milledgeville, Ga 
Diameter 3.22 inch, length 5.8 inch 
Ref: D & G pg. 267 

A1532    Read bourreleted shell, Selma manufacture, copper ring sabot, percussion fuse, Confederate 3.25 or 3.3 inch gun 

There is some confusion as to exactly which gun this was intended, 3.25 or 3.3 in. gun, machining is not precise enough to tell. The flat knob base, fat bourrelet rings and high convex copper sabot are indicative of Selma manufacture. 
Confederate copy of James percussion fuse (Jones pg. 29). 
Unfired example with sabot intact, copper percussion fuse is original and unscrews but there is nothing inside, excellent metal minimum pitting. 
Recovered: Oconee River, Milledgeville Ga 
Diameter 3.22 inch, length 6.5 inch 
Ref: D & G pg. 269  

A1536    Read bourreleted shell, wide copper ring tapered sabot wood time fuse, Confederate rifle, 3 in.  

Bourrelet rings are "mis-matched", meaning lower ring is typically wider than upper ring. As a labor saving device, only the bourrelet rings had to be exactly machined, the rest could be left rough. Copper ring sabot is tapered to a thin lip, a significant safety groove was milled into the top of the sabot and is sometimes cut into the bottom bourrelet ring, base shows a lathe dimple, casting sprue on nose is generally milled off but noticeable, manufacture is not known. 
Cast for a wood fuse.
Unfired example, significant safety groove is cleanly milled into the sabot, sprue and dimple are prominent, outstanding metal. 
Recovered: cache at Camden SC 
Diameter 2.95 inch, length 7.5 inch 
Ref: D & G pg. 265  

A1533     Read bourreleted shell, Selma manufacture, copper ring sabot, wood fuse, Confederate 3.25 or 3.3 inch gun 

Good restoration candidate, if you like to do your own restorations, shell is coated but has never been cleaned.
There is some confusion as to exactly which gun this was intended, 3.25 or 3.3 inch gun, machining is not precise enough to tell. The flat knob base, fat bourrelet rings and high convex copper sabot are indicative of Selma manufacture, equipped with wood fuse. Unfired example with sabot intact, remains of wood fuse good metal, moderate pitting 
Recovered: Vicksburg campaign 
Diameter 3.22 inch, length 6.5 inch 
Ref: Dickey & George pg. 269  

A1494     Read star cavity shell, copper ring sabot, copper time fuse Confederate 3.4 inch or Blakely 3.5 inch gun 
 
It is not entirely clear what gun this was intended for, specimens noted seem to vary in diameter from 3.35 in to 3.45 inch which may be measurement variance caused by corrosion, distortion of sabots from firing, or machining quality variations. Many were found at High Bridge Va which was a low priority outpost and may have been equipped with an older smoothbore gun bored and retrofitted to take these rifled projectiles or it could have been intended for the 12 pounder Blakely rifle, 3.5 inch. Interior of the shell was segmented in star shape, an innovation to produce more even fragmentation, sabot is high band convex copper sabot, thickness varies, equipped with a copper time fuse. Copper sabot intact may be fired, a small section of the side has been chipped out exposing the segmented interior, copper time fuse intact, metal casting is poor, moderate pitting. 
Found at Brandy Station, Va., 1863 campaign site 
Diameter 3.4 inch, length 7.75 inch 
Ref: Dickey & George pg. 271 or 274 (may be same shell) 

A1903     Read tall shell, wrought iron sabot, copper time fuse Confederate 20 pounder rifle, 3.67 in.

Tall body, rounded nose, some give the appearance of a sleeve but this is variation in machining, heavy wrought iron sabot was pre-rifled with 5 flanges, lathe dimple in base, casting sprue on nose. Confederate copper time fuse, two spanner holes, (Jones pg. 41) 
Copper time fuse intact, sabot intact with 5 pre-rifled flanges, excellent metal quality minor pitting only. 
Recovered: Atlanta 
Diameter 3.63 inch, length 10.25 inch 
Ref: D & G pg. 280 (copper time fuse)   

A1490    Read tall shell, wrought iron sabot, wood time fuse Confederate 20 pounder rifle, 3.67 in. 

Tall body, rounded nose, some give the appearance of a sleeve but this is variation in machining, heavy wrought iron sabot was pre-rifled with 5 flanges, lathe dimple in base, casting sprue on nose. Cast for wood fuse Wood fuse missing, inspector mark "Z" or could be "2" is visible, sabot intact with 5 pre-rifled flanges, excellent metal quality 
Recovered: Gettysburg campaign 
Diameter 3.63 inch, length 10.25 inch 
Ref: D & G pg. 280 (wood fuse) 

A1489     Read long shell, wrought iron sabot, wood fuse Confederate 30 pounder rifle, 4.2 inch 

Cast for wood fuse, thin wrought iron sabot, lathe dimple in base. Wood fuse is missing, fired sabot intact showing 5 lands & grooves, late war casting quality is poor as typical, metal shows moderate pitting. 
Recovered Petersburg, Va 
Diameter 4.15 inch, length 12.6 inch 
Ref: Bell Heavy Ord, pg. 329     

A1648    Read tear drop bolt, iron sabot, Rifled 32 pounder gun, 6.4 in. 
 
Various attempts were made to employ this "tear drop" design, it did not take the rifling very well and were not effective, this one has iron sabot. 
Iron sabot intact, metal solid moderate pitting. 
Recovered: Mississippi defenses 
Diameter 6.36in, length 9.0in 
Ref: Bell Heavy Ord, pg. 343

A1568     Read bourreleted shell, iron sabot, percussion fuse, Confederate rifled 32 pounder, 6.4 in. 
 
Confederate Read with bourrelet rings, thin wrought iron sabot, intended to use Confederate percussion fuse. Sabot sheared as is typical, fuse intact with damage, metal quality good with light pitting. 
Recovered: Richmond Va 
Diameter 6.36 inch, length 9.5 inch (sabot missing) 
Ref: Bell Heavy Ord, pg. 348  

A1984    Confederate time fuse adaptor, rifled projectiles 

This simple copper time fuse adaptor with a paper fuse was widely used by the Confederates. It employed a flange with spanner holes for ease of fastening, bottom is tapered, hole in bottom is small for "case" shot. Longer fuse was generally intended for Confederate rifled projectiles.
Threads clean, good display or can be used.
Length 1.9 in., Diameter .98 in., Flange diameter 1.25 in.
Ref: Jones Fuse pg. 41 (case shot)