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

Research Center: Artillery1256-Ball12pdr

Smoothbore artillery projectile, spherical ball, bursting shell, "common" (standard), polygonal cavity diamond pattern, wood time fuze with .875in. opening, 12 pounder, 4.62in. Projectile was intended for the smoothbore 12 pounder. Fuze employed was a wood time fuze, fuze hole is smooth and tapered, the simple to make fuze could easily be hammered into place, Jones Fuzes pg. 2. Those with small openings, .875in., were generally manufactured before the war for the 12 pounder Coehorn Mortar. However by the beginning of the Civil War this small Coehorn mortar had largely been replaced by the newer 24 pounder Coehorn. All of the arsenals would have been abundantly stocked with them, and southerners made good use of them in the 12 pounder howitzers, referred to as the "Napoleon". Those with larger opening, 1.125in. may have been intended for the longer range Napoleons, however it appears that the size distinction of the opening was of little concern and both sizes were manufactured and extensively used through out the war, principal use was southern. This pattern is Confederate manufacture during the war. Instead of the usual round bursting chamber the interior was segmented into polygonal forms, points of weakness would be created to facilitate more uniform fragmentation. This pattern was cast using the four sided diamond shape, Dickey & George Fig C-4 pg. 527. Often the core would drift off center during casting, the resultant off-center cavity would tend to negate the benefits of the segmented interior. Projectile measures: diameter 4.52in., weight 9lbs (empty). Research Center: Artillery1256-Ball12pdr, Ref: Dickey & George, Field Artillery (1993 Edition), pg. 30. Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery1256-Ball12pdr.html.

A0006...Smoothbore artillery projectile, spherical ball, bursting shell, "common" (standard), polygonal cavity diamond pattern, wood time fuze with .875in. opening, 12 pounder, 4.62in. Projectile was intended for the smoothbore 12 pounder. Fuze employed was a wood time fuze, fuze hole is smooth and tapered, the simple to make fuze could easily be hammered into place, Jones Fuzes pg. 2. Those with small openings, .875in., were generally manufactured before the war for the 12 pounder Coehorn Mortar. However by the beginning of the Civil War this small Coehorn mortar had largely been replaced by the newer 24 pounder Coehorn. All of the arsenals would have been abundantly stocked with them, and southerners made good use of them in the 12 pounder howitzers, referred to as the "Napoleon". Those with larger opening, 1.125in. may have been intended for the longer range Napoleons, however it appears that the size distinction of the opening was of little concern and both sizes were manufactured and extensively used through out the war, principal use was southern. This pattern is Confederate manufacture during the war. Instead of the usual round bursting chamber the interior was segmented into polygonal forms, points of weakness would be created to facilitate more uniform fragmentation. This pattern was cast using the four sided diamond shape, Dickey & George Fig C-4 pg. 527. Often the core would drift off center during casting, the resultant off-center cavity would tend to negate the benefits of the segmented interior. Projectile measures: diameter 4.52in., weight 8.6lbs. This example was cast way off center which would have completely defeated the point of the polygonal casting in this case. Note that this "dud" simply cracked and broke on impact but did not explode. Moisture and rust eventually split it apart exposing the interior. Projectile is disarmed: open carcass exposes empty interior. Recovered: Richmond, Petersburg, Virginia campaign. Ref: Dickey & George, Field Artillery (1993 Edition), pg. 30.

A1672...Smoothbore artillery projectile, spherical ball, bursting shell, "common" (standard), polygonal cavity diamond pattern, wood time fuze with .875in. opening, 12 pounder, 4.62in. Projectile was intended for the smoothbore 12 pounder. Fuze employed was a wood time fuze, fuze hole is smooth and tapered, the simple to make fuze could easily be hammered into place, Jones Fuzes pg. 2. Those with small openings, .875in., were generally manufactured before the war for the 12 pounder Coehorn Mortar. However by the beginning of the Civil War this small Coehorn mortar had largely been replaced by the newer 24 pounder Coehorn. All of the arsenals would have been abundantly stocked with them, and southerners made good use of them in the 12 pounder howitzers, referred to as the "Napoleon". Those with larger opening, 1.125in. may have been intended for the longer range Napoleons, however it appears that the size distinction of the opening was of little concern and both sizes were manufactured and extensively used through out the war, principal use was southern. This pattern is Confederate manufacture during the war. Instead of the usual round bursting chamber the interior was segmented into polygonal forms, points of weakness would be created to facilitate more uniform fragmentation. This pattern was cast using the four sided diamond shape, Dickey & George Fig C-4 pg. 527. Often the core would drift off center during casting, the resultant off-center cavity would tend to negate the benefits of the segmented interior. Projectile measures: diameter 4.52in., weight 9lbs, (empty). Cut shell shows cross section of polygonal cavity. Wood fuze missing. Projectile is disarmed, cut shell everything is exposed. Recovered: surplus stocks. Ref: Dickey & George, Field Artillery (1993 Edition), pg. 30.

A2225...Smoothbore artillery projectile, spherical ball, bursting shell, "common" (standard), polygonal cavity diamond pattern, wood time fuze with .875in. opening, 12 pounder, 4.62in. Projectile was intended for the smoothbore 12 pounder. Fuze employed was a wood time fuze, fuze hole is smooth and tapered, the simple to make fuze could easily be hammered into place, Jones Fuzes pg. 2. Those with small openings, .875in., were generally manufactured before the war for the 12 pounder Coehorn Mortar. However by the beginning of the Civil War this small Coehorn mortar had largely been replaced by the newer 24 pounder Coehorn. All of the arsenals would have been abundantly stocked with them, and southerners made good use of them in the 12 pounder howitzers, referred to as the "Napoleon". Those with larger opening, 1.125in. may have been intended for the longer range Napoleons, however it appears that the size distinction of the opening was of little concern and both sizes were manufactured and extensively used through out the war, principal use was southern. This pattern is Confederate manufacture during the war. Instead of the usual round bursting chamber the interior was segmented into polygonal forms, points of weakness would be created to facilitate more uniform fragmentation. This pattern was cast using the four sided diamond shape, Dickey & George Fig C-4 pg. 527. Often the core would drift off center during casting, the resultant off-center cavity would tend to negate the benefits of the segmented interior. Projectile measures: diameter 4.52in., weight 9lbs (empty). Cut shell shows cross section of polygonal cavity. Wood fuze missing. Projectile is disarmed, cut shell everything is exposed. Recovered: surplus stocks. Ref: Dickey & George, Field Artillery (1993 Edition), pg. 30.

A2292...Smoothbore artillery projectile, spherical ball, bursting shell, "common" (standard), polygonal cavity diamond pattern, wood time fuze with .875in. opening, 12 pounder, 4.62in. Projectile was intended for the smoothbore 12 pounder. Fuze employed was a wood time fuze, fuze hole is smooth and tapered, the simple to make fuze could easily be hammered into place, Jones Fuzes pg. 2. Those with small openings, .875in., were generally manufactured before the war for the 12 pounder Coehorn Mortar. However by the beginning of the Civil War this small Coehorn mortar had largely been replaced by the newer 24 pounder Coehorn. All of the arsenals would have been abundantly stocked with them, and southerners made good use of them in the 12 pounder howitzers, referred to as the "Napoleon". Those with larger opening, 1.125in. may have been intended for the longer range Napoleons, however it appears that the size distinction of the opening was of little concern and both sizes were manufactured and extensively used through out the war, principal use was southern. This pattern is Confederate manufacture during the war. Instead of the usual round bursting chamber the interior was segmented into polygonal forms, points of weakness would be created to facilitate more uniform fragmentation. This pattern was cast using the four sided diamond shape, Dickey & George Fig C-4 pg. 527. Often the core would drift off center during casting, the resultant off-center cavity would tend to negate the benefits of the segmented interior. Projectile measures: diameter 4.52in., weight 9lbs (empty).Cut shell shows cross section of polygonal cavity. Wood fuze missing. Projectile is disarmed, cut shell everything is exposed. Recovered: surplus stocks. Ref: Dickey & George, Field Artillery (1993 Edition), pg. 30.

A2495...Smoothbore artillery projectile, spherical ball, bursting shell, "common" (standard), polygonal cavity diamond pattern, wood time fuze with .875in. opening, 12 pounder, 4.62in. Projectile was intended for the smoothbore 12 pounder. Fuze employed was a wood time fuze, fuze hole is smooth and tapered, the simple to make fuze could easily be hammered into place, Jones Fuzes pg. 2. Those with small openings, .875in., were generally manufactured before the war for the 12 pounder Coehorn Mortar. However by the beginning of the Civil War this small Coehorn mortar had largely been replaced by the newer 24 pounder Coehorn. All of the arsenals would have been abundantly stocked with them, and southerners made good use of them in the 12 pounder howitzers, referred to as the "Napoleon". Those with larger opening, 1.125in. may have been intended for the longer range Napoleons, however it appears that the size distinction of the opening was of little concern and both sizes were manufactured and extensively used through out the war, principal use was southern. This pattern is Confederate manufacture during the war. Instead of the usual round bursting chamber the interior was segmented into polygonal forms, points of weakness would be created to facilitate more uniform fragmentation. This pattern was cast using the four sided diamond shape, Dickey & George Fig C-4 pg. 527. Often the core would drift off center during casting, the resultant off-center cavity would tend to negate the benefits of the segmented interior. Projectile measures: diameter 4.52in. Cut shell shows cross section of polygonal cavity. Wood fuze missing. Projectile is disarmed, cut shell everything is exposed. Recovered: Petersburg, Virginia. Ref: Dickey & George, Field Artillery (1993 Edition), pg. 30.

A2670...Smoothbore artillery projectile, spherical ball, bursting shell, "common" (standard), polygonal cavity diamond pattern, wood time fuze with .875in. opening, 12 pounder, 4.62in. Projectile was intended for the smoothbore 12 pounder. Fuze employed was a wood time fuze, fuze hole is smooth and tapered, the simple to make fuze could easily be hammered into place, Jones Fuzes pg. 2. Those with small openings, .875in., were generally manufactured before the war for the 12 pounder Coehorn Mortar. However by the beginning of the Civil War this small Coehorn mortar had largely been replaced by the newer 24 pounder Coehorn. All of the arsenals would have been abundantly stocked with them, and southerners made good use of them in the 12 pounder howitzers, referred to as the "Napoleon". Those with larger opening, 1.125in. may have been intended for the longer range Napoleons, however it appears that the size distinction of the opening was of little concern and both sizes were manufactured and extensively used through out the war, principal use was southern. This pattern is Confederate manufacture during the war. Instead of the usual round bursting chamber the interior was segmented into polygonal forms, points of weakness would be created to facilitate more uniform fragmentation. This pattern was cast using the four sided diamond shape, Dickey & George Fig C-4 pg. 527. Often the core would drift off center during casting, the resultant off-center cavity would tend to negate the benefits of the segmented interior. Projectile measures: diameter 4.52in., weight 9lbs, (empty). Projectile measures: diameter 4.52in., weight 9lbs, (empty). Cut shell shows cross section of polygonal cavity. Metal is soft, but stable, wood fuze missing. Projectile is disarmed, cut shell everything is exposed. Recovered: Spanish Fort, Alabama. Ref: Dickey & George, Field Artillery (1993 Edition), pg. 30.

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.