A virtual examination of artifacts of the American Civil War
by Harry Ridgeway
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Ridgeway Civil War Research Center, A virtual examination of artifacts of the American Civil War |
| Civil War Artillery | |
by Harry Ridgeway |
| Rifled artillery projectile, Confederate manufacture, canister, pattern with thin iron can, iron top and bottom, iron balls, no sabot, Brooke rifle, 7 in. The canister was the artillerist's weapon of last resort. Once the enemy got close to the battery, the gunners would load these rounds, and the flimsy can would burst on firing sending the contents in scatter fashion against the troops charging the cannon. The fire was devastating against the troops but the enemy would be so close that options to reload and shoot would have been limited. The can was constructed of sheet iron, shaped into a cylinder, fitted around iron plates top and bottom, sides were brazed, a lip was left at the top and the bottom. There never was a sabot for this pattern, the bottom of the can was simply folded around the bottom plate. The can was filled with balls, usually iron, packed in sawdust, once filled, the can upper lip was then folded around the top plate, which has a handle and a brass hinge. Based on the diameter of this projectile, it is believed that this was intended for the Confederate 7 inch Brooke rifle. All examples of this canister have been recovered from a cache of shells recovered from a site near the 1865 battle involving the CSS "Richmond" which after running aground, apparently discharged a number of these heavy shells to lighten its load to escape. Can measures: diameter 6.9in. length 8.55in. weight 45lbs. Research Center: Artillery2591-Canister, Ref: Bell , Heavy Ordnance, pg. 95.    Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery2591-Canister.html. |
A0110...Rifled artillery projectile, Confederate manufacture, canister, pattern with thin iron can, iron top and bottom, iron balls, no sabot, Brooke rifle, 7 in.      The canister was the artillerist's weapon of last resort. Once the enemy got close to the battery, the gunners would load these rounds, and the flimsy can would burst on firing sending the contents in scatter fashion against the troops charging the cannon. The fire was devastating against the troops but the enemy would be so close that options to reload and shoot would have been limited. The can was constructed of sheet iron, shaped into a cylinder, fitted around iron plates top and bottom, sides were brazed, a lip was left at the top and the bottom. There never was a sabot for this pattern, the bottom of the can was simply folded around the bottom plate. The can was filled with balls, usually iron, packed in sawdust, once filled, the can upper lip was then folded around the top plate, which has a handle and a brass hinge. Based on the diameter of this projectile, it is believed that this was intended for the Confederate 7 inch Brooke rifle. All examples of this canister have been recovered from a cache of shells recovered from a site near the 1865 battle involving the CSS "Richmond" which after running aground, apparently discharged a number of these heavy shells to lighten its load to escape. Can measures: diameter 6.9in. length 8.55in. weight 45lbs. All parts original, lid lifts off, balls upper area are loose and have been cleaned, lower level balls are undisturbed and still packed in sawdust. The can is cleaned and stable, but is fragile with holes. Canister is disarmed, just iron and sawdust, never had a bursting charge. Recovered: Trent's Reach, Richmond, Virginia. Ref: Bell , Heavy Ordnance, pg. 95. |
A2682...Rifled artillery projectile, Confederate manufacture, canister, pattern with thin iron can, iron top and bottom, iron balls, no sabot, Brooke rifle, 7 in.    The canister was the artillerist's weapon of last resort. Once the enemy got close to the battery, the gunners would load these rounds, and the flimsy can would burst on firing sending the contents in scatter fashion against the troops charging the cannon. The fire was devastating against the troops but the enemy would be so close that options to reload and shoot would have been limited. The can was constructed of sheet iron, shaped into a cylinder, fitted around iron plates top and bottom, sides were brazed, a lip was left at the top and the bottom. There never was a sabot for this pattern, the bottom of the can was simply folded around the bottom plate. The can was filled with balls, usually iron, packed in sawdust, once filled, the can upper lip was then folded around the top plate, which has a handle and a brass hinge. Based on the diameter of this projectile, it is believed that this was intended for the Confederate 7 inch Brooke rifle. All examples of this canister have been recovered from a cache of shells recovered from a site near the 1865 battle involving the CSS "Richmond" which after running aground, apparently discharged a number of these heavy shells to lighten its load to escape. Can measures: diameter 6.9in. length 8.55in. weight 45lbs. vRef: Bell , Heavy Ordnance, pg. 95. |
| Ridgeway Civil War Research Center, A virtual examination of artifacts of the American Civil War. Artillery Research center, artillery, click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery0000-Index.html.     Research center, artillery, click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery0000-Index.html. |
| Civil War Relicman, Harry Ridgeway, Civil War artillery, Relicman sales catalog. Click here: http://relicman.com/artillery/RelicmanSalesArtillery1.html.     Artillery for sale: http://relicman.com/artillery/RelicmanSalesArtillery1.html. |