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

Research Center: Artillery1112-Ball6pdr

Smoothbore artillery projectile, spherical ball, solid shot, smoothbore 6 pounder, 3.67 in. Projectile was intended for the smoothbore 6 pounder which had been the primary field howitzer in use before the Civil War but was outclassed by the new 12 pounders generally available. The arsenals were stocked with them, most were manufactured before the war and both sides used them but primary use was southern. There is no certain way to tell if southern manufactured or northern manufactured, both have mold seams. The solid ball could be used against troops in the field but was most effective when directed against enemy cannon or equipment. Originally the ball used a wood cup sabot attached to the ball with straps, on firing the straps would break releasing the ball. Projectile measures: diameter 3.58in., weight 6lbs. Research Center: Artillery1112-Ball6pdr, Ref: Dickey & George, Field Artillery (1993 Edition), pg. 28. Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery1112-Ball6pdr.html.

A0003...Smoothbore artillery projectile, spherical ball, solid shot, smoothbore 6 pounder, 3.67 in. Projectile was intended for the smoothbore 6 pounder which had been the primary field howitzer in use before the Civil War but was outclassed by the new 12 pounders generally available. The arsenals were stocked with them, most were manufactured before the war and both sides used them but primary use was southern. There is no certain way to tell if southern manufactured or northern manufactured, both have mold seams. The solid ball could be used against troops in the field but was most effective when directed against enemy cannon or equipment. Originally the ball used a wood cup sabot attached to the ball with straps, on firing the straps would break releasing the ball. Projectile measures: diameter 3.58in., weight 6lbs. Projectile is disarmed, casting is solid iron. Recovered: Third Battle of Winchester, by Steve Baker. Ref: Dickey & George, Field Artillery (1993 Edition), pg. 28. Ridgeway collection, Old Court House Civil War Museum, Winchester, Virginia

A1658...Smoothbore artillery projectile, spherical ball, solid shot, smoothbore 6 pounder, 3.67 in. Projectile was intended for the smoothbore 6 pounder which had been the primary field howitzer in use before the Civil War but was outclassed by the new 12 pounders generally available. The arsenals were stocked with them, most were manufactured before the war and both sides used them but primary use was southern. There is no certain way to tell if southern manufactured or northern manufactured, both have mold seams. The solid ball could be used against troops in the field but was most effective when directed against enemy cannon or equipment. Originally the ball used a wood cup sabot attached to the ball with straps, on firing the straps would break releasing the ball. Projectile measures: diameter 3.58in., weight 6lbs. Projectile is disarmed, casting is solid iron. Recovered: shell bears Mac Mason artwork: "Fired from Jackson's Guns into Smiths troops, White Oak Swamp Recovered April 21, 1667". Ball also shows a prominent casting sprue. Ref: Dickey & George, Field Artillery (1993 Edition), pg. 28.

A2110...Smoothbore artillery projectile, spherical ball, solid shot, smoothbore 6 pounder, 3.67 in. Projectile was intended for the smoothbore 6 pounder which had been the primary field howitzer in use before the Civil War but was outclassed by the new 12 pounders generally available. The arsenals were stocked with them, most were manufactured before the war and both sides used them but primary use was southern. There is no certain way to tell if southern manufactured or northern manufactured, both have mold seams. The solid ball could be used against troops in the field but was most effective when directed against enemy cannon or equipment. Originally the ball used a wood cup sabot attached to the ball with straps, on firing the straps would break releasing the ball. Projectile measures: diameter 3.58in., weight 6lbs. Projectile is disarmed, casting is solid iron. Recovered: Vicksburg, Mississippi. Ref: Dickey & George, Field Artillery (1993 Edition), pg. 28.

A2559...Smoothbore artillery projectile, spherical ball, solid shot, smoothbore 6 pounder, 3.67 in. Projectile was intended for the smoothbore 6 pounder which had been the primary field howitzer in use before the Civil War but was outclassed by the new 12 pounders generally available. The arsenals were stocked with them, most were manufactured before the war and both sides used them but primary use was southern. There is no certain way to tell if southern manufactured or northern manufactured, both have mold seams. The solid ball could be used against troops in the field but was most effective when directed against enemy cannon or equipment. Originally the ball used a wood cup sabot attached to the ball with straps, on firing the straps would break releasing the ball. Projectile measures: diameter 3.58in., weight 6lbs. Projectile is disarmed, casting is solid iron. Recovered: not known. Ref: Dickey & George, Field Artillery (1993 Edition), pg. 28.

A2791...Smoothbore artillery projectile, spherical ball, solid shot, smoothbore 6 pounder, 3.67 in. Projectile was intended for the smoothbore 6 pounder which had been the primary field howitzer in use before the Civil War but was outclassed by the new 12 pounders generally available. The arsenals were stocked with them, most were manufactured before the war and both sides used them but primary use was southern. There is no certain way to tell if southern manufactured or northern manufactured, both have mold seams. The solid ball could be used against troops in the field but was most effective when directed against enemy cannon or equipment. Originally the ball used a wood cup sabot attached to the ball with straps, on firing the straps would break releasing the ball. Projectile measures: diameter 3.58in., weight 6lbs. Projectile is disarmed, casting is solid iron. Recovered: Walker/Lupton property just north of Clearbrook, Virginia. There were two houses on the property, one was called Fairfield and the other Willow Spring. Virginia Lupton Riley was born at Willow Spring. It is likely that the Civil War items were found on this property, having passed from her aunt, Carrie Lupton Bond, who lived at Fairfield until sometime in the 1960’s Ref: Dickey & George, Field Artillery (1993 Edition), pg. 28. Old Court House Civil War Museum, Winchester, Virginia.

A3025...Smoothbore artillery projectile, spherical ball, solid shot, smoothbore 6 pounder, 3.67 in. Projectile was intended for the smoothbore 6 pounder which had been the primary field howitzer in use before the Civil War but was outclassed by the new 12 pounders generally available. The arsenals were stocked with them, most were manufactured before the war and both sides used them but primary use was southern. There is no certain way to tell if southern manufactured or northern manufactured, both have mold seams. The solid ball could be used against troops in the field but was most effective when directed against enemy cannon or equipment. Originally the ball used a wood cup sabot attached to the ball with straps, on firing the straps would break releasing the ball. Projectile measures: diameter 3.58in., weight 6lbs. Projectile is disarmed, solid shot never had a cavity or bursting charge. Recovered: not known. Ref: Dickey & George, Field Artillery (1993 Edition), pg. 28.

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.

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.

and now a word from our sponsor.....

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.