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

Research Center: Artillery1700-Ball8in

Smoothbore artillery projectile, spherical ball, 8 in. Research Center: Artillery1700-Ball8in, Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery1700-Ball8in.html.

Weapons used:
Smoothbore mortar, 8in. Caliber of the gun is 8.0in., round projectile diameter should measure 7.88in. approximately, variations will be noted.
Smoothbore Columbiad gun, 8in. Caliber of the gun is 8.0in., round projectile diameter should measure 7.88in. approximately, variations will be noted.

The big 8 in balls generally fall into two categories, Columbiads or mortars. The mortar was a lighter gun, designed to send a lighter ball on a very high trajectory over the embankment and into a dug in trench. The walls on these mortars is going to be relative thin, usually around 1.0 inch to 1.5 inch. Projectile was manufactured in the Federal arsenals for the Columbiad seige gun. This s were heavy Navy smoothbores, and were used in siege operations against land forts or other ships, the balls will be heavier, the walls are generally 2 inch thickness or greater.

A solid 8 inch ball theoretically weighs (60lbs) and is seldom seen. The actual size of the ball, after deducting for windage is 7.88 inches approx.


Research Center: Artillery1711-Ball8in

Smoothbore artillery projectile, spherical ball, solid shot, Columbiad smoothbore, 8 in. Projectile was manufactured in the Federal arsenals for the Columbiad seige gun. This was a heavy smoothbore and the firing subjected the balls to considerable stress, this solid shot was heavier than the shells and was designed for maximum damage against enemy equipment, however its use was very limited, and may have been only used for stress testing. Projectile measures: diameter 7.9in., weight 60lbs. Research Center: Artillery1711-Ball8in, Ref: Bell Heavy Ordnance, pg. 54. Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery1711-Ball8in.html.

Research Center: Artillery1721-Ball8in

Smoothbore artillery projectile, spherical ball, bursting shell, thick walled, with lifting ears, drive in seacoast watercap fuze, Columbiad smoothbore, 8 in. Projectile was manufactured in the Federal arsenals for the Columbiad seige gun. This was a heavy smoothbore and the firing subjected the balls to considerable stress, consequently the walls are thick, approximately 2.3in. at the fuze hole, and the shell is heavier than a mortar. Lifting ears can be on either type of shell. Fuze employed was a drive in seacoast watercap fuze, opening 1.35in. at surface, shell is cast for a smooth tapered fuze hole , Jones pg. 6. Projectile measures: diameter 7.9in., weight 50lbs. Research Center: Artillery1721-Ball8in, Ref: Bell Heavy Ordnance, pg. 54. Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery1721-Ball8in.html.

Research Center: Artillery1722-Ball8in

Smoothbore artillery projectile, spherical ball, bursting shell, thick walled, with lifting ears, wood fuze or drive in seacoast watercap fuze, Columbiad smoothbore, 8 in. Projectile was manufactured in the Federal or Confederate arsenals for the Columbiad seige gun. This was a heavy smoothbore and the firing subjected the balls to considerable stress, consequently the walls are thick, approximately 2.3in. at the fuze hole, and the shell is heavier than a mortar. Lifting ears can be on either type of shell. Fuze employed was a drive in seacoast watercap fuze, opening 1.35in. at surface, shell is cast for a smooth tapered fuze hole capable of receiving any type of drive in fuze including a wood fuze, Jones pg. 6. Projectile measures: diameter 7.9in., weight 50lbs. Research Center: Artillery1722-Ball8in, Ref: Bell Heavy Ordnance, pg. 54. Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery1722-Ball8in.html.

Research Center: Artillery1723-Ball8in

Smoothbore artillery projectile, spherical ball, bursting shell, thick walled, without lifting ears, wood fuze or drive in seacoast watercap fuze, Columbiad smoothbore, 8 in. Projectile was manufactured in the Federal or Confederate arsenals for the Columbiad seige gun. This was a heavy smoothbore and the firing subjected the balls to considerable stress, consequently the walls are thick, approximately 2.3in. at the fuze hole, and the shell is heavier than a mortar. Lifting ears can be on either type of shell. Fuze employed was a drive in seacoast watercap fuze, opening 1.35in. at surface, shell is cast for a smooth tapered fuze hole capable of receiving any type of drive in fuze including a wood fuze, Jones pg. 6. Projectile measures: diameter 7.9in., weight 50lbs. Research Center: Artillery1723-Ball8in, Ref: Bell Heavy Ordnance, pg. 54. Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery1723-Ball8in.html.

Research Center: Artillery1724-Ball8in

Smoothbore artillery projectile, spherical ball, bursting shell, thick walled, no lifting ears, non-threaded fuze with small opening, likely Confederate, Columbiad smoothbore, 8 in. Projectile was manufactured in the Federal arsenals for the Columbiad seige gun. This was a heavy smoothbore and the firing subjected the balls to considerable stress, consequently the walls are thick, 2.3in. at the fuze hole, and the shell is heavier than a mortar. Lifting ears can be on either type of shell, this pattern does not have ears. Cast for a non-threaded wood fuze or seacoast drive in fuze, opening .95 to 1.05in. at surface, the small opening may be indication of Confederate manufacture. Projectile measures: diameter 7.9in., weight 50lbs. Research Center: Artillery1724-Ball8in, Ref: Bell Heavy Ordnance, pg. 54. Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery1724-Ball8in.html.

Research Center: Artillery1751-Ball8in

Smoothbore artillery projectile, spherical ball, bursting shell, thin walled mortar with lifting ears, wood fuze with 1.25in. opening, smoothbore mortar, 8in. Projectile was manufactured in the Federal arsenals for the heavy mortars. Designed for siege operations, these guns were designed to send a projectile on a high trajectory into the enemy trench. Depth of the fuze hole is approximately 1.5in., this is much lighter than the Columbiad seige gun. Many were cast with tong or lifting ears for lifting into a mortar. Fuze employed was a wood time fuze, Jones Fuzes pg. 2, fuze hole is smooth and tapered, the simple to make fuze could easily be hammered into place, larger opening, 1.25in. for a mortar. Projectile measures: diameter 7.9in., weight 45lbs. Research Center: Artillery1751-Ball8in, Ref: Bell, Heavy Ordnance, pg. 55. Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery1751-Ball8in.html.

Research Center: Artillery1752-Ball8in

Smoothbore artillery projectile, spherical ball, bursting shell, thin walled mortar with lifting ears, wood fuze with 1.25in. opening, likely Confederate manufacture, smoothbore mortar, 8in. Projectile was manufactured in the Confederate arsenals for the heavy mortars. This pattern is likely Confederate based on the unusual shape of the tong holes, the hole is wide. Designed for siege operations, these guns were designed to send a projectile on a high trajectory into the enemy trench. Depth of the fuze hole is approximately 1.5in., this is much lighter than the Columbiad seige gun. Many were cast with tong or lifting ears for lifting into a mortar. Fuze employed was a wood time fuze, Jones Fuzes pg. 2, fuze hole is smooth and tapered, the simple to make fuze could easily be hammered into place, larger opening, 1.25in. for a mortar. Projectile measures: diameter 7.9in., weight 45lbs. Research Center: Artillery1752-Ball8in, Ref: Bell, Heavy Ordnance, pg. 57. Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery1752-Ball8in.html.

Research Center: Artillery1761-Ball8in

Smoothbore artillery projectile, spherical ball, bursting shell, thin walled mortar with lifting ears, Bormann fuze, smoothbore, 8in. Projectile was manufactured in the Federal arsenals for the heavy mortars. Designed for siege operations, these guns were designed to send a projectile on a high trajectory into the enemy trench. This ball was intended to be filled with case shot balls, the thickness of the casing is reduced from other mortars. Fuze employed was a Federal Bormann time fuze , with single slot, (Jones pg. 22) . Projectile measures: diameter 7.9in., weight 45lbs. Research Center: Artillery1761-Ball8in, Ref: Bell, Heavy Ordnance, pg. 55. Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery1761-Ball8in.html.

Research Center: Artillery1771-Ball8in

Smoothbore artillery projectile, spherical ball, bursting shell, Confederate incendiary, Confederate incendiary fuze, smoothbore, 8in. This was a Confederate innovation, an attempt to create a shell that would spread fire once delivered to the target. The bursting charge was contained in an inner can, the cavity was filled with a liquid incendiary mixture. The inner fuze is a captured Navy watercap fuze. There are two spanner holes, the other holes are drilled through the entire fuze. There would have been an outer covering, now missing. Superb example of this rare shell. Projectile measures: diameter in., length 7.9in. (excluding fuze), weight 50lb. Projectile measures: diameter 7.9in., weight 45lbs. Research Center: Artillery1771-Ball8in, Ref: Bell, Heavy Ordnance, pg. 58. Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery1771-Ball8in.html.

Smoothbore artillery projectile, spherical ball, 8 in., fragments.

A0476.1. Smoothbore artillery projectile, spherical ball, 8 in., fragments. Shell fragment 8 in. ball Note remains of threaded fuze hole, this fragment is 1.75 in. thick Recovered: Richmond VA. Fragment weighs 5lb.

A2182...Smoothbore artillery projectile, spherical ball, 8 in., fragments. This large fragment, which is about half is filled with case shot balls. It is a great illustration of the structure of this shell. Recovered: not known. Fragment of 8 inch case shot ball, 26 lbs.

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.