A virtual examination of artifacts of the American Civil War
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Ridgeway Civil War Research Center, A virtual examination of artifacts of the American Civil War |
| Civil War Artillery | |
| by Harry Ridgeway |
| Artillery projectile, canister. Research Center: Artillery2500-Canister,    Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery2500-Canister.html. |
| Rifled artillery projectile, canister, pattern with thin iron can, iron top and bottom, lead balls, wooden sabot, 2.6 in. The canister was the artillerist's weapon of last resort. Once the enemy got close to the battery, the gunners would load these rounds, and the flimsy can would burst on firing sending the contents in scatter fashion against the troops charging the cannon. The fire was devastating against the troops but the enemy would be so close that options to reload and shoot would have been limited. The can was constructed of sheet iron, shaped into a cylinder, fitted around iron plates top and bottom, sides were brazed, a lip was left at the top and the bottom. A wood sabot was cut on a lathe, grooves were cut to tie the powder bag, the lower lip of the can was nailed to the wood sabot. The can was filled with balls, usually lead, packed in sawdust, once filled, the can upper lip was then folded around the top plate. Based on the diameter of this projectile, it is believed that this was intended for the Wiard 2.6in. rifle. The canister was intended to burst immediately on firing, consequently the presence or absence of rifling would not have been important, and as a weapon of last resort, rounds could have been double or triple loaded without adversely stressing the cannon. Projectile measures: diameter 2.6in., length 6.25in. including the sabot, 4.75in, without the sabot, weight 5lbs. Research Center: Artillery2511-Canister, Ref: Dickey & George, Field Artillery (1993 Edition), pg. 52.     Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery2511-Canister.html. |
| Rifled artillery projectile, Dyer design, Federal manufacture, canister, pattern with thin iron can, iron top, lead slugs, lead cup sabot, Ordnance rifle, 3 in. The canister was the artillerist's weapon of last resort. Once the enemy got close to the battery, the gunners would load these rounds, and the flimsy can would burst on firing sending the contents in scatter fashion against the troops charging the cannon. The fire was devastating against the troops but the enemy would be so close that options to reload and shoot would have been limited. The can was constructed of sheet iron shaped into a cylinder, sides are brazed, bottom of the can, also made of sheet, was recessed leaving a lip that was crimped around the sabot. The sabot is cast white metal, rounded bottom and no marks. The can was filled with lead slugs, cut from extruded cylindrical lead bars, packed in sawdust, once filled, the can upper lip was then folded around the top plate.Projectile measures: diameter 2.9in., length 5in. to 7in., approximately, weight 7.lbs. Research Center: Artillery2521-Canister, Ref: Dickey & George, Field Artillery (1993 Edition), pg. 58 and 59.    Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery2521-Canister.html. |
| A0975...Rifled artillery projectile, Dyer design, canister, Ordnance rifle, 3 in., lead slugs, Dyer canister. Conventional loading of canister was round balls, either lead or iron. These lead slugs were cut from the feeding stock for the bullet swag machines, and were used in Dyer canister. Recovered: Shepherdstown, West Virginia. Ridgeway collection, Old Court House Civil War Museum, Winchester, Virginia |
| A0194...Rifled artillery projectile, Dyer design, canister, Ordnance rifle, 3 in., fragments of can and sabot. Lead sabot sabot does not show distorition from firing, and may have been cut from the the can. Recovered: Frederick County, Virginia., by Harry Ridgeway, 1960's. Ridgeway collection, Old Court House Civil War Museum, Winchester, Virginia |
| Rifled artillery projectile, Hotchkiss design, Federal manufacture, canister, pattern with thin iron can, iron top, lead balls, lead cup sabot, Ordnance rifle, 3 in. The canister was the artillerist's weapon of last resort. Once the enemy got close to the battery, the gunners would load these rounds, and the flimsy can would burst on firing sending the contents in scatter fashion against the troops charging the cannon. The fire was devastating against the troops but the enemy would be so close that options to reload and shoot would have been limited. The can was constructed of sheet iron shaped into a cylinder, sides are brazed, bottom of the can, also made of sheet, was recessed leaving a lip that was crimped around the sabot. The sabot is cast lead, inscription is also cast with raised letters, "HOTCHKISS 3 in., JAN,Y 7, 1862 " PATENT". The can was filled with balls, usually lead, packed in sawdust, once filled, the can upper lip was then folded around the top plate. Projectile measures: diameter 2.9in., length 8.0in. (excluding fuze), weight 7.1lbs. Research Center: Artillery2522-Canister, Ref: Dickey & George, Field Artillery (1993 Edition), pg. 60.   Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery2522-Canister.html. |
A0195.. Rifled artillery projectile, Hotchkiss design, canister, 3 in., base fragment from Hotchkiss canister.  Two lead sabots from fired rounds, showing the expected distortions, fragment of the bottom of the can remain. Note that the bottom of the can is sheet iron and not iron plate. Recovered: Battle Cedar Creek, Virginia by Harry Ridgeway.Ridgeway collection, Old Court House Civil War Museum, Winchester, Virginia |
A0196...Rifled artillery projectile, canister, 3 in., canister plates  Plates were positioned top and bottom of the canisters, the can was crimped around the plates. Thin plates generally were top, thick plates bottom. However Hotchkiss and Dyer canister did not use bottom plates, so the thick bottom plates were probably used in canister with wood sabots. Recovered: Battle of Cedar Creek, Virginia, by Harry Ridgeway. Ridgeway collection, Old Court House Civil War Museum, Winchester, Virginia |
| Rifled artillery projectile, Sawyer design, Federal manufacture, canister, pattern with stiff iron can, thin iron top, lead balls, no sabot, holes in the bottom, Navy boat howitzer, 3.4 in. The canister was the artillerist's weapon of last resort. Once the enemy got close to the battery, the gunners would load these rounds, and the flimsy can would burst on firing sending the contents in scatter fashion against the troops charging the cannon. The fire was devastating against the troops but the enemy would be so close that options to reload and shoot would have been limited. The can was filled with lead balls, packed in sawdust, a thin iron plate was fitted on the top. The can was rigid and did not have a sabot, three large holes were placed in the bottom, energy from firing would push through the bottom and force the balls and lid out the top. This is Navy round and was intended for the Navy light howitzer,to be used in close combat, ship against troops, application was very limited. Projectile measures: diameter 3.4in., length 5.5in. Research Center: Artillery2531-Canister, Ref: Dickey & George, Field Artillery (1993 Edition), pg. 365.    Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery2531-Canister.html. |
| Artillery projectile, canister, pattern with thin iron can, iron top and bottom, iron balls, wood cup sabot, 3.67 in. The canister was the artillerist's weapon of last resort. Once the enemy got close to the battery, the gunners would load these rounds, and the flimsy can would burst on firing sending the contents in scatter fashion against the troops charging the cannon. The fire was devastating against the troops but the enemy would be so close that options to reload and shoot would have been limited. The can was constructed of sheet iron, shaped into a cylinder, fitted around iron plates top and bottom, sides were brazed, a lip was left at the top and the bottom. A wood sabot was cut on a lathe, grooves were cut to tie the powder bag, the lower lip of the can was nailed to the wood sabot. The can was filled with balls, usually iron, packed in sawdust, once filled, the can upper lip was then folded around the top plate. Based on the diameter of this projectile, it is believed that this was intended for any 3.67in. cannon, either a smoothbore 6 pounder, rifled 6 pounder, or rifled 20 pounder. The canister was intended to burst immediately on firing, consequently the presence or absence of rifling would not have been important, and as a weapon of last resort, rounds could have been double or triple loaded without adversely stressing the cannon. Projectile measures: diameter 3.6in., overall length with sabot 6.75 in., canister only length 5.0in., weight 7.0lb. Research Center: Artillery2541-Canister, Ref: Dickey & George, Field Artillery (1993 Edition), pg. 54.   Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery2541-Canister.html. |
A1719...Artillery projectile, canister, 3.67 in., top and bottom plates. Top and bottom plates from canister. Plates measure: diameter 3.5 in. Recovered: Vicksburg, Mississippi. |
| Rifled artillery projectile, Sawyer design, Federal manufacture, canister, pattern with stiff iron can, thin iron top, balls, no sabot, holes in the bottom, 6 pounder, 3.67 in. The canister was the artillerist's weapon of last resort. Once the enemy got close to the battery, the gunners would load these rounds, and the flimsy can would burst on firing sending the contents in scatter fashion against the troops charging the cannon. The fire was devastating against the troops but the enemy would be so close that options to reload and shoot would have been limited. The can was filled with balls, packed in sawdust, a thin iron plate was fitted on the top. The can was rigid and did not have a sabot, three large holes were placed in the bottom, energy from firing would push through the bottom and force the balls and lid out the top. This 3.67 in size would fit either a smoothbore 6 pounder, rifled 6 pounder or one of the rifled 20 pounders. Projectile measures: diameter 3.63in., length 5.5in. (approx), weight not meaningful, canister balls are missing. Research Center: Artillery2542-Canister, Ref: Dickey & George, Field Artillery (1993 Edition), pg. 63.     Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery2542-Canister.html. |
| Canister, Wiard design, Federal manufacture, pattern with lead sleeve, iron top, lead balls, lead cup sabot, James 14 pounder rifle, 3.8 in. The canister was the artillerist's weapon of last resort. Once the enemy got close to the battery, the gunners would load these rounds, and the flimsy can would burst on firing sending the contents in scatter fashion against the troops charging the cannon. The fire was devastating against the troops but the enemy would be so close that options to reload and shoot would have been limited. The can was filled with lead balls, packed in sawdust, an iron plate was fitted on the top with a white metal cup on the bottom serving as sabot, a lead cylinder was cast without a seam and filled. Sabot is lead casting, inscription is cast with raised lettering and reads: "BASE". Projectile measures: diameter 3.8in., canister length is 5.5in., weight not determined. Research Center: Artillery2551-Canister, Ref. "Shiloh Shells and Artillery Units" by George Whitham pg. 118 & 119. Ref: Dickey & George, Field Artillery (1993 Edition), pg. 66.    Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery2551-Canister.html. |
| Canister, James design, Federal manufacture, tall lead canister, canvass covered, open base with slots, lead and tin sleeve sabot, James 14 pounder rifle, 3.8in. Projectile was manufactured in the Federal arsenals following the invention of Charles James. The entire projectile was covered with a canvass sleeve. Apparently this was field tested at Shiloh, as the few parts recovered have all come from this site. Projectile measures: diameter 3.8in canister length is 5.5in, base length is 3in. Research Center: Artillery2552-Canister, Ref: Dickey & George, Field Artillery (1993 Edition), pg. 61.    Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery2552-Canister.html. |
| Smoothbore artillery projectile, canister, pattern with thin iron can, iron top and bottom, iron balls, wood cup sabot, smoothbore 12 pounder, 4.62 in. The canister was the artillerist's weapon of last resort. Once the enemy got close to the battery, the gunners would load these rounds, and the flimsy can would burst on firing sending the contents in scatter fashion against the troops charging the cannon. The fire was devastating against the troops but the enemy would be so close that options to reload and shoot would have been limited. The can was constructed of sheet iron, shaped into a cylinder, fitted around iron plates top and bottom, sides were brazed, a lip was left at the top and the bottom. A wood sabot was cut on a lathe, grooves were cut to tie the powder bag, the lower lip of the can was nailed to the wood sabot. The can was filled with balls, usually iron, packed in sawdust, once filled, the can upper lip was then folded around the top plate. Based on the diameter of this projectile, it is believed that this was intended for any 12 pounder cannon 4.62in. The canister was intended to burst immediately on firing, and as a weapon of last resort, rounds could have been double or triple loaded without adversely stressing the cannon. Projectile measures: diameter 4.5in., canister length 5.5in. canister with partial sabot approx 10in., canister weight 10.8lb. Research Center: Artillery2571-Canister, Ref: Dickey & George, Field Artillery (1993 Edition), pg. 57.    Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery2571-Canister.html. |
A0197...Smoothbore artillery projectile, canister, 12 pounder, 4.62 in. canister plates  These canister plates were placed at the top and bottom of the can to hold the balls together. Thickness varies. Generally the thin plates are top plates and the thick ones were used on the bottom. One of these plates shows distortion from firing, the impression of the rounded canister balls is clearly visible. This occurs when canister were double or triple loaded into the cannon. This plate which is thick would have been the bottom plate of the bottom round, the maximum force from firing would force the first plate into the balls. Plates measure 4.4in. to 4.5in. the can fitted over the plates, the can fit loosely into the cannon, so the plates will typically measure small. Recovered: Battle of Cedar Creek, Virginia, by Harry Ridgeway.Ridgeway collection, Old Court House Civil War Museum, Winchester, Virginia |
| Rifled artillery projectile, Confederate manufacture, canister, pattern with thin iron can, iron top and bottom, iron balls, no sabot, Brooke rifle, 6.4 in. The canister was the artillerist's weapon of last resort. Once the enemy got close to the battery, the gunners would load these rounds, and the flimsy can would burst on firing sending the contents in scatter fashion against the troops charging the cannon. The fire was devastating against the troops but the enemy would be so close that options to reload and shoot would have been limited. The can was constructed of sheet iron, shaped into a cylinder, fitted around iron plates top and bottom, sides were brazed, a lip was left at the top and the bottom. There never was a sabot for this pattern, the bottom of the can was simply folded around the bottom plate. The can was filled with balls, usually iron, packed in sawdust, once filled, the can upper lip was then folded around the top plate, which has a handle and a brass hinge. Based on the diameter of this projectile, it is believed that this was intended for the Confederate 6.4 inch rifled 32 pounder or Brooke rifle. Can measures: diameter 6.3in. length 9in. weight not determined. Research Center: Artillery2581-Canister, Ref: Bell , Heavy Ordnance, pg. 94.   Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery2581-Canister.html. |
| Rifled artillery projectile, Confederate manufacture, canister, pattern with thin iron can, iron top and bottom, iron balls, no sabot, Brooke rifle, 7 in. The canister was the artillerist's weapon of last resort. Once the enemy got close to the battery, the gunners would load these rounds, and the flimsy can would burst on firing sending the contents in scatter fashion against the troops charging the cannon. The fire was devastating against the troops but the enemy would be so close that options to reload and shoot would have been limited. The can was constructed of sheet iron, shaped into a cylinder, fitted around iron plates top and bottom, sides were brazed, a lip was left at the top and the bottom. There never was a sabot for this pattern, the bottom of the can was simply folded around the bottom plate. The can was filled with balls, usually iron, packed in sawdust, once filled, the can upper lip was then folded around the top plate, which has a handle and a brass hinge. Based on the diameter of this projectile, it is believed that this was intended for the Confederate 7 inch Brooke rifle. All examples of this canister have been recovered from a cache of shells recovered from a site near the 1865 battle involving the CSS "Richmond" which after running aground, apparently discharged a number of these heavy shells to lighten its load to escape. Can measures: diameter 6.9in. length 8.55in. weight 45lbs. Research Center: Artillery2591-Canister, Ref: Bell , Heavy Ordnance, pg. 95.   Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery2591-Canister.html. |
A0198.. Iron balls, "case shot", "canister", and "grape" shot various different sizes. Generally small balls were used for "case shot" shells and the larger balls for cans. Recovered: Harry Ridgeway Frederick County, Virginia.Ridgeway collection, Old Court House Civil War Museum, Winchester, Virginia |
| 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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