A virtual examination of artifacts of the American Civil War
by Harry Ridgeway
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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 |
| 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. |
| A0021...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 5.2lbs. Can, top plate and most of the sabot are intact. Projectile is disarmed, originally filled with sawdust, there never was a bursting charge. Recovered: from a cache at City Point, Virginia. Ref: Dickey & George, Field Artillery (1993 Edition), pg. 52. |
A2000...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. This can is unfired, the entire canister was recovered including the bottom and top plates, the balls and parts of the can. It has been put together in this display (some glue for stability) in a nice wooden box with plexiglass with an illustration of the battle. Recovered: Rich Mountain, West Virginia. Ref: Dickey & George, Field Artillery (1993 Edition), pg. 52. |
| 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. |