Ridgeway Civil War Research Center, A virtual examination of artifacts of the American Civil War
	Civil War Artillery
	by Harry Ridgeway

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.

This is the "Ridgeway Civil War Research Center...", a research tool for educational purposes only, and is provided at no cost to the reader. Some of the relics listed are retained in the author's collection, most reside in other collections and are not owned by the author. None of the items listed in this section are for sale, please refer to relicman.com sales listings for items offered for sale. This is a work in progress, I list items as I get to them, there are many patterns that are not listed yet, this list will be regularly updated as I get pictures and descriptions for more items. I will also correct mistakes, so if you see any please tell me. All items listed are believed to be authentic to the Civil War or as otherwise described. This information is available for research purposes, pictures may be used by permission only.
All excavated artifacts have been recovered from private property with owner's permission.
All projectiles listed have been disarmed.

Most information on this page is from:
Field Artillery Projectiles of the American Civil War, 1993 Edition. by Thomas S. Dickey and Peter C. George.
Civil War Heavy Explosive Ordnance, A Guide to Large Artillery Prjectiles, Torpedoes, and Mines, by Jack Bell.
Artillery Fuses of the Civil War, by Charles H. Jones.
Pictures are by the author, unless otherwise indicated.

"Smoothbore ball", refers to a projectile used in a cannon without rifling. The balls are round.


"Rifled projectile" refers to a projectile fired from a cannon with rifling. The projectiles are elongated. The rifling is long grooves cut the full length of the cannon, usually with a twist, the grooves are referred to as cuts, and the part not cut as "lands.


"Sabot" refers to either a band or a block designed to seal the gases in the cannon tube on firing so that the projectile is expelled. For balls this is often a block of wood with a flat bottom. For rifled projectiles the sabot is some sort of band designed to be flexible to expand into the rifling. The count of the lands and grooves can often be seen in the sabot of the shell.


"Solid shot" refers to a projectile that is solid cast, and contains no bursting cavity. A solid shot can be either round smoothbore or elongated rifled.


"Common shell" means a projectile was cast with a bursting cavity containing only powder. In this respect the term "common" can be interperted as "standard", although design variations off standard of Civil War era Ordnance can be extensive.


"Case shot" usually refers to the balls, lead or iron, packed in an artillery projectile. The projectile could be a round ball for smoothbore or a conical projectile for rilfed cannon, the projectiles were cast thick to withstand the stress of firing over distance, and were usually fitted with time fuzes designed to detonate the projectile over troops massed and exposed in open field formations. The balls were typically small, usually around .69in. or smaller and packed in a matrix to hold in place so that the powder charge would not be compacted and would maintain its explosive volatility.



"Canister" usually refers to a can, made of thin sheet metal, fitted into cylindrical shape, and filled with "canister" balls, which could be lead or iron, the balls were packed in sawdust and the can usually did not contain any explosive charge. 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 canister could be used in either rifled or smoothbore cannon, and was intended to burst immediately on firing, consequently the presence or absence of rifling would not have been important. As a weapon of last resort, rounds could have been double or triple loaded without adversely stressing the cannon, because a standard powder charge could be used, and even though a heavy over load would be discharged, the distance of firing was very short.



"Grape" or "stands of grape" refer to balls stacked loose, held in place with a bolt, rings and plates, or canvass, no explosive charge or sawdust, and no can. This also 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 stand would burst on firing sending the contents in scatter fashion against the troops charging the cannon. The stands of grape could be used in either rifled or smoothbore cannon, and was intended to burst immediately on firing, consequently the presence or absence of rifling would not have been important. As a weapon of last resort, rounds could have been double or triple loaded without adversely stressing the cannon, because a standard powder charge could be used, and even though a heavy over load would be discharged, the distance of firing was very short.



Research Center: Artillery1100-Ball6pdr

Smoothbore artillery projectile, spherical ball, smoothbore 6 pounder, 3.67 in. Research Center: Artillery1100-Ball6pdr Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery1100-Ball6pdr.html.

Research Center: Artillery1200-Ball12pdr

Smoothbore artillery projectile, spherical ball, smoothbore 12 pounder, 4.62in. Research Center: Artillery1200-Ball12pdr Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery1200-Ball12pdr.html.

Research Center: Artillery1300-Ball18pdr

Smoothbore artillery projectile, spherical ball, smoothbore 18 pounder, 5.3in. Research Center: Artillery1300-Ball18pdr, Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery1300-Ball18pdr.html.

Research Center: Artillery1400-Ball24pdr

Smoothbore artillery projectile, spherical ball, smoothbore 24 pounder, 5.82in. Research Center: Artillery1400-Ball24pdr Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery1400-Ball24pdr.html.

Research Center: Artillery1500-Ball32pdr

Smoothbore artillery projectile, spherical ball, smoothbore 32 pounder, 6.4in. Research Center: Artillery1500-Ball32pdr, Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery1500-Ball32pdr.html.

Research Center: Artillery1600-Ball42pdr

Smoothbore artillery projectile, spherical ball, smoothbore 42 pounder, 7 in. Research Center: Artillery1600-Ball42pdr, Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery1600-Ball42pdr.html.

Research Center: Artillery1700-Ball8in

Smoothbore artillery projectile, spherical ball, 8 in. Research Center: Artillery1700-Ball8in, Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery1700-Ball8in.html.

Research Center: Artillery1800-Ball9in

Smoothbore artillery projectile, spherical ball, 9 in. Research Center: Artillery1800-Ball9in, Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery1800-Ball9in.html.

Research Center: Artillery1900-Ball10in

Smoothbore artillery projectile, spherical ball, 10 in. Research Center: Artillery1900-Ball10in, Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery1900-Ball10in.html.

Research Center: Artillery2000-Ball11in

Smoothbore artillery projectile, spherical ball, 11 in. Research Center: Artillery2000-Ball11in, Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery2000-Ball11in.html.

Research Center: Artillery2100-Ball13in

Smoothbore artillery projectile, spherical ball, 13in. Research Center: Artillery2100-Ball13in, Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery2100-Ball13in.html.

Research Center: Artillery2200-Ball15in

Smoothbore artillery projectile, spherical ball, 15 in. Research Center: Artillery2200-Ball15in, Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery2200-Ball15in.html.

Research Center: Artillery2500-Canister

Artillery projectile, canister. Research Center: Artillery2500-Canister, Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery2500-Canister.html.

Research Center: Artillery2600-GrapeStand

Artillery projectile, stand of grape. Research Center: Artillery2600-GrapeStand Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery2600-GrapeStand.html.

Research Center: Artillery3000-Absterdam

Rifled artillery projectile, Absterdam design Research Center: Artillery3000-Absterdam, Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery3000-Absterdam.html.

Research Center: Artillery3100-Archer

Rifled artillery projectile, Archer design Research Center: Artillery3100-Archer, Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery3100-Archer.html.

Research Center: Artillery3200-ConfederateLeadSleeved

Rifled artillery projectile, Confederate lead sleeved design Research Center: Artillery3200-ConfederateLeadSleeved, Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery3200-ConfederateLeadSleeved.html.

Research Center: Artillery3300-Blakely

Rifled artillery projectile, Blakely design Research Center: Artillery3300-Blakely, Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery3300-Blakely.html.

Research Center: Artillery3400-Britten

Rifled artillery projectile, Britten design Research Center: Artillery3400-Britten, Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery3400-Britten.html.

Research Center: Artillery3500-Brooke

Rifled artillery projectile, Brooke design Research Center: Artillery3500-Brooke Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery3500-Brooke.html.

Research Center: Artillery3600-Broun

Rifled artillery projectile, Broun design Research Center: Artillery3600-Broun Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery3600-Broun.html.

Research Center: Artillery3700-Burton

Rifled artillery projectile, Burton design Research Center: Artillery3700-Burton Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery3700-Burton.html.

Research Center: Artillery3800-Dahlgren

Rifled artillery projectile, Dahlgren design Research Center: Artillery3800-Dahlgren, Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery3800-Dahlgren.html.

Research Center: Artillery3860-DahlgrenConfederate

Rifled artillery projectile, Dahlgren design with Confederate adaptation Research Center: Artillery3860-DahlgrenConfederate, Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery3860-DahlgrenConfederate.html.

Research Center: Artillery3900-Delafield

Rifled artillery projectile, Delafield design Research Center: Artillery3900-Delafield Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery3900-Delafield.html.

Research Center: Artillery4000-Dyer

Rifled artillery projectile, Dyer design Research Center: Artillery4000-Dyer Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery4000-Dyer.html.

Research Center: Artillery4100-Eureka

Rifled artillery projectile, Eureka design Research Center: Artillery4100-Eureka Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery4100-Eureka.html.

Research Center: Artillery4200-Harding

Rifled artillery projectile, Harding design Research Center: Artillery4200-Harding Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery4200-Harding.html.

Research Center: Artillery4300-Hotchkiss

Rifled artillery projectile, Hotchkiss design Research Center: Artillery4300-Hotchkiss, Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery4300-Hotchkiss.html.

Research Center: Artillery4400-James

Rifled artillery projectile, James design Research Center: Artillery4400-James, Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery4400-James.html.

Research Center: Artillery4500-JamesConfederate

Rifled artillery projectile, Confederate adaptation of James design Research Center: Artillery4500-JamesConfederate Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery4500-JamesConfederate.html.

Research Center: Artillery4600-Parrott

Rifled artillery projectile, Parrott design Research Center: Artillery4600-Parrott , Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery4600-Parrott.html.

Research Center: Artillery4800-ParrottConfederate

Rifled artillery projectile, Parrott design with Confederate adaptation Research Center: Artillery4800-ParrottConfederate, Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery4800-ParrottConfederate.html.

Research Center: Artillery5000-Read

Rifled artillery projectile, Read design Research Center: Artillery5000-Read, Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery5000-Read.html.

Research Center: Artillery5200-Sawyer

Rifled artillery projectile, Sawyer design Research Center: Artillery5200-Sawyer Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery5200-Sawyer.html.

Research Center: Artillery5300-Schenkl

Rifled artillery projectile, Schenkl design Research Center: Artillery5300-Schenkl Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery5300-Schenkl.html.

Research Center: Artillery5400-SchenklConfederate

Rifled artillery projectile, Schenkl design Confederate adaptation Research Center: Artillery5400-SchenklConfederate Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery5400-SchenklConfederate.html.

Research Center: Artillery5600-Selma

Rifled artillery projectile, Selma Arsenal design Research Center: Artillery5600-Selma Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery5600-Selma.html.

Research Center: Artillery5700-Skates

Rifled artillery projectile, Skates design Research Center: Artillery5700-Skates Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery5700-Skates.html.

Research Center: Artillery5800-Tennessee

Rifled artillery projectile, Tennessee design Research Center: Artillery5800-Tennessee, Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery5800-Tennessee.html.

Research Center: Artillery5900-Whitworth

Rifled artillery projectile, Whitworth design Research Center: Artillery5900-Whitworth Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery5900-Whitworth.html.

Research Center: Artillery6100-Grenades

Rifled artillery projectile, Grenades Research Center: Artillery6100-Grenades, Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery6100-Grenades.html.

Research Center: Artillery6200-MinesTorpedos

Mines and Torpedos. Research Center: Artillery6200-MinesTorpedos, Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery6200-MinesTorpedos.html.

Research Center: Artillery6300-Rockets

Rifled artillery projectile, Civil War rockets Research Center: Artillery6300-Rockets, Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery6300-Rockets.html.

Research Center: Artillery7000-OtherProjectiles

Artillery, other projectiles. Research Center: Artillery7000-OtherProjectiles, Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery7000-OtherProjectiles.html.

Research Center: Artillery8000-Fuze

Artillery Fuzes. Research Center: Artillery8000-Fuze, Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery8000-Fuze.html.

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