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

Research Center: Artillery1127-Ball6pdr

Smoothbore artillery projectile, spherical ball, bursting shell, "case shot", Bormann time fuze with wrench single slot, lead balls packed in powder only without matrix, brass underplug, 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. The exploding balls were equipped with time fuzes designed to detonate in the air above the target, spreading fragments against troops in the open field, solid shot was generally used against opposing cannon, but one could be substituted for the other as needed. Originally the ball used a wood cup sabot attached to the ball with straps, on firing the straps would break releasing the ball. Some of these shells were configured as case shot (approx 5lbs. with balls ), or as "common" (approx 4lbs. without balls). This ball is "case shot", explosive charge with lead balls. Shell is equipped with a Confederate manufactured Bormann time fuze, .5 second starting notch, single wrench slot, threads omitted from the top of the shell, theoretically enabling the fuze to be hand tightened, (Jones pg. 22 and 26). Shell is cut exposing the interior, it is filled with lead balls packed in black powder only, there is no matrix and no drilled powder trail, underplug is brass. Projectile measures: diameter 3.58in., weight 5lbs. approx. Research Center: Artillery1127-Ball6pdr, Ref: Dickey & George, Field Artillery (1993 Edition), pg. 29. Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery1127-Ball6pdr.html.

A2740...Smoothbore artillery projectile, spherical ball, bursting shell, "case shot", Bormann time fuze with wrench single slot, lead balls packed in powder only without matrix, brass underplug, 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. The exploding balls were equipped with time fuzes designed to detonate in the air above the target, spreading fragments against troops in the open field, solid shot was generally used against opposing cannon, but one could be substituted for the other as needed. Originally the ball used a wood cup sabot attached to the ball with straps, on firing the straps would break releasing the ball. Some of these shells were configured as case shot (approx 5lbs. with balls ), or as "common" (approx 4lbs. without balls). This ball is "case shot", explosive charge with lead balls. Shell is equipped with a Confederate manufactured Bormann time fuze, .5 second starting notch, single wrench slot, threads omitted from the top of the shell, theoretically enabling the fuze to be hand tightened, (Jones pg. 22 and 26). Shell is cut exposing the interior, it is filled with lead balls packed in black powder only, there is no matrix and no drilled powder trail, underplug is brass. Projectile measures: diameter 3.58in., weight 5lbs. approx. Bormann fuze is punched and burned. Projectile is disarmed, cut shell exposes interior. Recovered: not known. Ref: Dickey & George, Field Artillery (1993 Edition), pg. 29.

A2835...Smoothbore artillery projectile, spherical ball, bursting shell, "case shot", Bormann time fuze with wrench single slot, lead balls packed in powder only without matrix, brass underplug, 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. The exploding balls were equipped with time fuzes designed to detonate in the air above the target, spreading fragments against troops in the open field, solid shot was generally used against opposing cannon, but one could be substituted for the other as needed. Originally the ball used a wood cup sabot attached to the ball with straps, on firing the straps would break releasing the ball. Some of these shells were configured as case shot (approx 5lbs. with balls ), or as "common" (approx 4lbs. without balls). This ball is "case shot", explosive charge with lead balls. Shell is equipped with a Confederate manufactured Bormann time fuze, .5 second starting notch, single wrench slot, threads omitted from the top of the shell, theoretically enabling the fuze to be hand tightened, (Jones pg. 22 and 26). Shell is cut exposing the interior, it is filled with lead balls packed in black powder only, there is no matrix and no drilled powder trail, underplug is brass. Projectile measures: diameter 3.58in., weight 5lbs. approx. Bormann fuze is punched and burned. Projectile is disarmed, cut shell exposes interior. Recovered: Milledgeville, Georgia river cache. Ref: Dickey & George, Field Artillery (1993 Edition), pg. 29.

Smoothbore artillery projectile, smoothbore 6 pounder, 3.67in., fragments

A0200.11...Smoothbore artillery projectile, smoothbore 6 pounder, 3.67in., fragments. Fragment 6 pounder, is unusually thin. Recovered: Shenandoah Valley, Virginia campaign, by Harry Ridgeway. Ridgeway collection, Old Court House Civil War Museum, Winchester, Virginia

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.

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