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The Civil War Relicman,
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Winchester, Virginia
USA (changed hands 70 times in the Civil War!)
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Artillery of the Civil War
smoothbore balls, field use, up to 24 pounder
All items listed are believed to be authentic to the Civil War or as otherwise described.
All artillery items listed have been disarmed and rendered inert.
Any excavated relics have been recovered from private property with owners permission.
A2110
Ball, solid shot, smoothbore 6 pounder,
3.67 in.
The 6 pounder gun was no match for the new 12 pounders and thus
was considered to be obsolete by the start of the Civil War. However
there were many abandoned in the southern arsenals when they were seized so the
Confederates put them to use. This solid shot was intended to be used
against opposing cannons.
Metal solid, minor pitting only, mold seam is visible.
Recovered: Vicksburg, Mississippi
Diameter 3.58 in.
Ref: D & G pg. 28
$150.00
A2218
Ball, solid shot, smoothbore 6 pounder,
3.67 in.
The 6 pounder gun was no match for the new 12 pounders and thus
was considered to be obsolete by the start of the Civil War. However
there were many abandoned in the southern arsenals when they were seized so the
Confederates put them to use. This solid shot was intended to be used
against opposing cannons.
Metal solid, minor pitting only, light rust is un-cleaned
as found.
Recovered: Chickamauga, Georgia
Diameter 3.58 in.
Ref: D & G pg. 28
Sold!
A2219
Ball, solid shot, smoothbore 6 pounder,
3.67 in.
The 6 pounder gun was no match for the new 12 pounders and thus was considered
to be obsolete by the start of the Civil War. However there were many
abandoned in the southern arsenals when they were seized so the Confederates put
them to use. This solid shot was intended to be used against opposing
cannons.
Metal solid, minor pitting only, light rust is un-cleaned
as found.
Recovered: Chickamauga, Georgia
Diameter 3.58 in.
Ref: D & G pg. 28
Sold!
A1514
Ball, "case shot" shell, Bormann time
fuse, smoothbore 12 pounder, 4.62 in.
Ball was fired from the light "Napoleon" using the Bormann time
fuse intended to detonate over the heads of the enemy troops in open
formation. This was filled with small balls or "case shot" balls, thus
increasing significantly this spread of deadly fire.
Federal Bormann time fuse (Jones pg. 22)
Ball has been cut showing the lead case shot balls, packed in black or asphalt
matrix, brass underplug. Part of the burning material in the fuse
track remains.
Recovered: Port Hudson, Louisiana
Diameter 4.52 in., weight 10 lbs.
Ref: D & G pg. 35 (Federal "case-shot" asphalt
matrix, each half $225
A1516
Ball, "case shot" shell, Bormann time
fuse, smoothbore 12 pounder, 4.62 in.
Ball was fired from the light "Napoleon" using the Bormann time
fuse intended to detonate over the heads of the enemy troops in open
formation. This was filled with small balls or "case shot" balls, thus
increasing significantly this spread of deadly fire.
Federal Bormann time fuse (Jones pg. 22)
Ball has been cut showing the lead case shot balls, packed in yellow or sulfur
matrix. Fuse has been punched, moderate pitting.
Note that powder chamber is badly off center!
Recovered: Port Hudson, Louisiana
Diameter 4.52 in. weight 11 lbs.
Ref: D & G pg. 35 (Federal "case-shot",
sulfur matrix)
Sold!
A1792
Ball, Confederate
polygonal diamond pattern, wood fuse, smoothbore 12 pounder, 4.62 in.
Interior of shell was cast with polygonal shapes intended to create
points of weakness for better fragmentation. This one shows the diamond
(rhomboidal) pattern (D& G Fig C-4 pg. 527)
Large fragment from exploded shell is approx, half of the shell.
Recovered: Petersburg, VA
Diameter 4.52 inch
Ref: D & G pg. 30 (12 pounder diamond pattern)
$125.00
A1673
Ball, Confederate mortar shell, polygonal
cavity pentagonal pattern, wood fuse, Coehorn mortar 12 pounder, 4.62 in.
Interior of shell was cast with polygonal shapes intended to create
points of weakness for better fragmentation. This one shows the five sided
(pentagonal) pattern (D& G Fig C-3 pg. 526)
Shell is cut, exposing the interior pentagonal pattern.
Recovered: Petersburg, VA
Diameter 4.52 in.
Ref: D & G pg. 30 (12 pounder mortar)
(polygonal pentagonal pattern) Shell is cut each half
$250.00, both halves $400.00
A1779
Ball, Confederate mortar shell, polygonal
cavity pentagonal pattern, wood fuse, Coehorn mortar 12 pounder, 4.62 in.
Interior of shell was cast with polygonal shapes intended to create
points of weakness for better fragmentation. This one shows the five sided
(pentagonal) pattern (D& G Fig C-3 pg. 526)
Shell is cut, exposing the interior pentagonal pattern.
Recovered: Petersburg, VA
Diameter 4.52 in.
Ref: D & G pg. 30 (12 pounder pentagonal pattern)
Ref: D & G pg. 30 (12 pounder mortar) (polygonal
pentagonal pattern) Shell is cut each half $250.00,
both halves $400.00
A2054
Ball, "case shot" shell, Bormann fuse,
smoothbore 24 pounder, 5.82 in.
The 24 pounder smoothbore was uncommon, not a very practical weapon because of
its excessive weight for field use, most were used as flanking
guns in the forts or as Coehorn mortars.
This was filled with small balls or "case shot" balls, thus increasing
significantly this spread of deadly fire. This one has been cut and shows
lead
balls in a yellow or sulfur matrix and the narrow powder chamber in the middle.
Bormann time fuse is intact, metal is solid with moderate pitting.
Recovered: Port Hudson, Louisiana
Diameter 5.7 in., weight 17 lbs.
Ref: D & G pg. 47 ("case" shot, sulfur
matrix) Shell is cut, each half $300.00, both halves $500.00
A1697
Ball, Confederate mortar shell, polygonal
cavity diagonal pattern, wood fuse, Coehorn mortar 24 pounder, 5.82 in.
Most wood fused 24 pounders were intended for the Coehorn mortar, some
are "case shot" (with balls) or "common" no balls.
Wood fused 12 pounder ball for the Coehorn (7/8" fuse hole) is
distinguished from the Napoleon (1 1/4" fuse hole) (D&G pg. 51).
Shell is cut exposing the diagonal internal pattern. Wood time fuse is
missing, metal solid with light to moderate pitting.
Recovered: La Fourche Rail Crossing outside Tipado, LA, found Nov 1974.
Diameter 5.7 in., weight 19 lbs.
Ref: D & G pg. 48 (mortar) (polygonal
diamond pattern) Shell is cut, each half $300.00, both
halves $500.00
A1698
Ball, Confederate mortar shell, polygonal
cavity diagonal pattern, wood fuse, Coehorn mortar 24 pounder, 5.82 in.
Most wood fused 24 pounders were intended for the Coehorn mortar, some are "case
shot" (with balls) or "common" no balls. Wood
fused 12 pounder ball for the Coehorn (7/8" fuse hole) is distinguished from the
Napoleon (1 1/4" fuse hole) (D&G pg. 51).
Shell is cut exposing the diagonal internal pattern. Wood time fuse is
missing, metal solid with light to moderate pitting.
Recovered: Spanish Fort Alabama
Diameter 5.7 in., weight 17 lbs. (empty)
Ref: D & G pg. 48 (mortar) (polygonal diamond
pattern) Shell is cut, each half $300.00, both halves
$500.00
A1936
Bormann time fuse, Confederate manufacture
The Confederates copied and modified the zinc Bormann time fuse,
Confederate version starts at half second (three quarters for Federal) and there
is a significant lip on the top that is not threaded, presumably so it could be
hand tightened. Single wrench slot for tightening. Fuse generally intended for
smaller caliber balls.
Fuse is cut in half, unthreaded lip is definite,
Diameter 1.6 in.
Ref: Jones Fuses pg. 26 $25.00