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

Research Center: Artillery1261-Ball12pdr

Smoothbore artillery projectile, spherical ball, bursting shell, "common" (standard), Confederate copper time fuze, smoothbore 12 pounder, 4.62in. Projectile was intended for the smoothbore 12 pounder "Napoleon". This pattern is Confederate wartime manufactured using the copper time fuze designed to detonate in the air above the target, spreading fragments against troops in the open field. Those with side plugs were generally configured as case shot (approx 10lbs. with iron balls), those without side plugs are usually "common" (approx 9lbs.) and without balls. This shell is a "common" shell, or standard, and does not contain balls, however the relatively heavy weight suggests that its interior is polygonal. By segmenting the interior into polygonal forms, points of weakness would be created to facilitate more uniform fragmentation. Fuze employed was a Confederate copper time fuze, short pattern for spherical projectiles, with flange and spanner holes, the fuze hole is recessed to seat the flange flush with the curvature of the ball, (Jones pg. 38). Projectile measures: diameter 4.52in., weight 9lbs. Research Center: Artillery1261-Ball12pdr, Ref: Dickey & George, Field Artillery (1993 Edition), pg. 32. Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery1261-Ball12pdr.html.

A2102...Smoothbore artillery projectile, spherical ball, bursting shell, "common" (standard), Confederate copper time fuze, smoothbore 12 pounder, 4.62in. Projectile was intended for the smoothbore 12 pounder "Napoleon". This pattern is Confederate wartime manufactured using the copper time fuze designed to detonate in the air above the target, spreading fragments against troops in the open field. Those with side plugs were generally configured as case shot (approx 10lbs. with iron balls), those without side plugs are usually "common" (approx 9lbs.) and without balls. This shell is a "common" shell, or standard, and does not contain balls, however the relatively heavy weight suggests that its interior is polygonal. By segmenting the interior into polygonal forms, points of weakness would be created to facilitate more uniform fragmentation. Fuze employed was a Confederate copper time fuze, short pattern for spherical projectiles, with flange and spanner holes, the fuze hole is recessed to seat the flange flush with the curvature of the ball, (Jones pg. 38). Projectile measures: diameter 4.52in., weight 9lbs. Copper time fuze intact. Projectile is disarmed, drill hole through the paper section of the time fuze. Recovered: Richmond, Petersburg, Virginia campaign. Ref: Dickey & George, Field Artillery (1993 Edition), pg. 32.

A2246...Smoothbore artillery projectile, spherical ball, bursting shell, "common" (standard), Confederate copper time fuze, smoothbore 12 pounder, 4.62in. Projectile was intended for the smoothbore 12 pounder "Napoleon". This pattern is Confederate wartime manufactured using the copper time fuze designed to detonate in the air above the target, spreading fragments against troops in the open field. Those with side plugs were generally configured as case shot (approx 10lbs. with iron balls), those without side plugs are usually "common" (approx 9lbs.) and without balls. This shell is a "common" shell, or standard, and does not contain balls, however the relatively heavy weight suggests that its interior is polygonal. By segmenting the interior into polygonal forms, points of weakness would be created to facilitate more uniform fragmentation. Fuze employed was a Confederate copper time fuze, short pattern for spherical projectiles, with flange and spanner holes, the fuze hole is recessed to seat the flange flush with the curvature of the ball, (Jones pg. 38). Projectile measures: diameter 4.52in., weight 9lbs. Copper time fuze intact. Projectile is disarmed, drill hole through the paper section of the time fuze. Recovered: Richmond, Petersburg, Virginia campaign. Ref: Dickey & George, Field Artillery (1993 Edition), pg. 32.

A2475...Smoothbore artillery projectile, spherical ball, bursting shell, "common" (standard), Confederate copper time fuze, smoothbore 12 pounder, 4.62in. Projectile was intended for the smoothbore 12 pounder "Napoleon". This pattern is Confederate wartime manufactured using the copper time fuze designed to detonate in the air above the target, spreading fragments against troops in the open field. Those with side plugs were generally configured as case shot (approx 10lbs. with iron balls), those without side plugs are usually "common" (approx 9lbs.) and without balls. This shell is a "common" shell, or standard, and does not contain balls, however the relatively heavy weight suggests that its interior is polygonal. By segmenting the interior into polygonal forms, points of weakness would be created to facilitate more uniform fragmentation. Fuze employed was a Confederate copper time fuze, short pattern for spherical projectiles, with flange and spanner holes, the fuze hole is recessed to seat the flange flush with the curvature of the ball, (Jones pg. 38). Projectile measures: diameter 4.52in., weight 9lbs. Copper time fuze intact. Projectile is disarmed, drill hole through the paper section of the time fuze. Recovered: Richmond, Petersburg, Virginia campaign. Ref: Dickey & George, Field Artillery (1993 Edition), pg. 32.

A2621...Smoothbore artillery projectile, spherical ball, bursting shell, "common" (standard), Confederate copper time fuze, smoothbore 12 pounder, 4.62in. Projectile was intended for the smoothbore 12 pounder "Napoleon". This pattern is Confederate wartime manufactured using the copper time fuze designed to detonate in the air above the target, spreading fragments against troops in the open field. Those with side plugs were generally configured as case shot (approx 10lbs. with iron balls), those without side plugs are usually "common" (approx 9lbs.) and without balls. This shell is a "common" shell, or standard, and does not contain balls, however the relatively heavy weight suggests that its interior is polygonal. By segmenting the interior into polygonal forms, points of weakness would be created to facilitate more uniform fragmentation. Fuze employed was a Confederate copper time fuze, short pattern for spherical projectiles, with flange and spanner holes, the fuze hole is recessed to seat the flange flush with the curvature of the ball, (Jones pg. 38). Projectile measures: diameter 4.52in., weight 7.6lbs., empty, without fuze. Cut shell showing cross section with polygonal cavity and threaded fuze. Copper time fuze missing. Projectile is disarmed, cut shell everything is open. Recovered: Richmond, Petersburg, Virginia campaign. Ref: Dickey & George, Field Artillery (1993 Edition), pg. 32.

A2693...Smoothbore artillery projectile, spherical ball, bursting shell, "common" (standard), Confederate copper time fuze, smoothbore 12 pounder, 4.62in. Projectile was intended for the smoothbore 12 pounder "Napoleon". This pattern is Confederate wartime manufactured using the copper time fuze designed to detonate in the air above the target, spreading fragments against troops in the open field. Those with side plugs were generally configured as case shot (approx 10lbs. with iron balls), those without side plugs are usually "common" (approx 9lbs.) and without balls. This shell is a "common" shell, or standard, and does not contain balls, however the relatively heavy weight suggests that its interior is polygonal. By segmenting the interior into polygonal forms, points of weakness would be created to facilitate more uniform fragmentation. Fuze employed was a Confederate copper time fuze, short pattern for spherical projectiles, with flange and spanner holes, the fuze hole is recessed to seat the flange flush with the curvature of the ball, (Jones pg. 38). Projectile measures: diameter 4.52in., weight 7.6lbs., empty, without fuze. Cut shell showing cross section with polygonal cavity and threaded fuze. Copper time fuze missing. Projectile is disarmed, cut shell everything is open. Recovered: Richmond, Petersburg, Virginia campaign. Ref: Dickey & George, Field Artillery (1993 Edition), pg. 32.

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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