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

by Harry Ridgeway



Research Center: Artillery4032-Dyer
Rifled artillery projectile, Dyer design, Federal manufacture, bursting shell, pointed nose, lead cup sabot, Parrott "improved one part" percussion fuze, rifled 42 pounder gun 7in.
Projectile was manufactured in the Federal arsenals following the invention of Alexander Dyer. The sabot system utilized was an expanding lead cup around the base. This pattern features a massive lead sabot with a concave bottom, nose of the shell is pointed. This shell is "common", (standard), explosive charge only without lead balls, with a time fuze, shell could be used against enemy cannon or troops defending a fort. The massive lead sabot was problematic, it tended to foul the cannons, and often it would block passage of the flame to the paper time fuze. To remedy this, the sabots on some were chopped with an axe, this to clear a flame path to the fuze. Fuze employed was a Parrott zinc "improved" one part design, with a flange, Jones, Fuzes, pg. 81, edge of the fuze hole is milled flat. Projectile measures: diameter 6.9in., length 13.75in., weight approx. 80lbs. with sabot, 65lbs. without sabot.
Research Center: Artillery4032-Dyer, Ref: Bell, Heavy Ordnance, pg. 224.

Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery4032-Dyer.html.


A2979...Rifled artillery projectile, Dyer design, Federal manufacture, bursting shell, pointed nose, lead cup sabot, Parrott "improved one part" percussion fuze, rifled 42 pounder gun 7in.

Projectile was manufactured in the Federal arsenals following the invention of Alexander Dyer. The sabot system utilized was an expanding lead cup around the base. This pattern features a massive lead sabot with a concave bottom, nose of the shell is pointed. This shell is "common", (standard), explosive charge only without lead balls, with a time fuze, shell could be used against enemy cannon or troops defending a fort. The massive lead sabot was problematic, it tended to foul the cannons, and often it would block passage of the flame to the paper time fuze. To remedy this, the sabots on some were chopped with an axe, this to clear a flame path to the fuze. Fuze employed was a Parrott zinc "improved" one part design, with a flange, Jones, Fuzes, pg. 81, edge of the fuze hole is milled flat. Projectile measures: diameter 6.9in., length 13.75in., weight approx. 80lbs. with sabot, weight 66lbs., without sabot. Lead cup sabot was seperated on firing. Parrott "improved one part fuze intact. Projectile is disarmed, drill hole through side. Recovered: believed to be James River, Virginia, but this is not confirmed.
Ref: Bell, Heavy Ordnance, pg. 224.


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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