Ridgeway Civil War Research Center, A virtual examination of artifacts of the American Civil War |
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Civil War Artillery | |
by Harry Ridgeway |
Smoothbore artillery projectile, spherical ball, bursting shell, "case shot", Bormann time fuze with wrench single slot, lead balls packed in asphalt matrix, iron 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. with out balls). This ball is "case shot", explosive charge with lead balls. Fuze employed was a Federal Bormann time fuze, 3/4 second starting time, single slot, Jones pg. 23. Shell is filled with lead balls packed in black asphalt matrix, powder trail was drilled through the matrix and balls, underplug is iron. Projectile measures: diameter 3.58in., weight 5lbs approx. Research Center: Artillery1128-Ball6pdr, Ref: Dickey & George, Field Artillery (1993 Edition), pg. 29. Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery1128-Ball6pdr.html. |
A3016...Smoothbore artillery projectile, spherical ball, bursting shell, "case shot", Bormann time fuze with wrench single slot, lead balls packed in asphalt matrix, iron 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. with out balls). This ball is "case shot", explosive charge with lead balls. Fuze employed was a Federal Bormann time fuze, 3/4 second starting time, single slot, Jones pg. 23. Shell is filled with lead balls packed in black asphalt matrix, powder trail was drilled through the matrix and balls, underplug is iron. Projectile measures: diameter 3.58in., weight 5.2lbs. Projectile is disarmed, cut shell exposes interior. Recovered not known. Ref: Dickey & George, Field Artillery (1993 Edition), pg. 29. |
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. |