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, Burton design, Confederate manufacture, solid bolt, pattern with smooth sides, copper band sabot, Confederate rifle, 3in. Projectile was Confederate manufactured following James H Burton's design. The sabot system utilized was a long copper band sabot, notched into the base of the projectile. The pattern originally had a lead sabot, apparently all of the lead sabots were removed and replaced with the copper ring sabot. Both Burton and Dyer patterns were used at First Manasssas, and for years the Dyers with lead sabots were incorrectly identified as Burton. Col E.P. Alexander, an early observer and analyst had recovered samples of the projectiles with lead sabots from Manassas and incorrectly identifed them as Burton, this probably because the Burtons were supposed to also have lead sabots. However only the Dyers actually had lead sabots and the Burton projectiles in the field had copper sabots. Because he was a contemporary observer, nobody questioned this identification. The mystery was solved when researchers (Pete George) determined that period reports indicated that Dyers were used in large quantities at Manassas yet, none were showing up and period diagrams for Dyer were also discovered showing the lead sabots. Projectile measures: diameter 2.94in., length 7in. (excluding fuze), weight 10.6lbs. Research Center: Artillery3711-Burton, Ref: Dickey & George, Field Artillery (1993 Edition), pg. 139.     Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery3711-Burton.html. |
| A0040...Rifled artillery projectile, Burton design, Confederate manufacture, solid bolt, pattern with smooth sides, copper band sabot, Confederate rifle, 3in. Projectile was Confederate manufactured following James H Burton's design. The sabot system utilized was a long copper band sabot, notched into the base of the projectile. The pattern originally had a lead sabot, apparently all of the lead sabots were removed and replaced with the copper ring sabot. Both Burton and Dyer patterns were used at First Manasssas, and for years the Dyers with lead sabots were incorrectly identified as Burton. Col E.P. Alexander, an early observer and analyst had recovered samples of the projectiles with lead sabots from Manassas and incorrectly identifed them as Burton, this probably because the Burtons were supposed to also have lead sabots. However only the Dyers actually had lead sabots and the Burton projectiles in the field had copper sabots. Because he was a contemporary observer, nobody questioned this identification. The mystery was solved when researchers (Pete George) determined that period reports indicated that Dyers were used in large quantities at Manassas yet, none were showing up and period diagrams for Dyer were also discovered showing the lead sabots. Projectile measures: diameter 2.94in., length 7in. (excluding fuze), weight 10.6lbs. Sabot is fired showing 7 lands and grooves, and is intact. Metal is solid, minor areas of pitting. Projectile is disarmed: solid iron casting never had a cavity or bursting charge. There are traces of the original lead filling a small hole in the base. Recovered: Manassas, Virginia. Ref: Dickey & George, Field Artillery (1993 Edition), pg. 139., this is the example published. |
| 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. |