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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

 


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

Left half 
        
Sold!

Right 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 

Left half
        Sale pending!

Right half
 $300


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


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