A virtual examination of artifacts of the American Civil War
by Harry Ridgeway
|
Ridgeway Civil War Research Center, A virtual examination of artifacts of the American Civil War |
| Civil War Artillery | |
by Harry Ridgeway |
| Rifled artillery projectile, Hotchkiss design, Federal manufacture, bursting shell, pattern with flame grooves, pointed nose "common" (standard), lead band sabot, Hotchkiss brass time fuze, Ordnance rifle, 3in. Projectile was manufactured in the Federal arsenals following the invention of Andrew Hotchkiss. The pattern consisted of three parts, a nose section containing the explosive charge, a cast iron cup fitted on the bottom, and lead band sabot cast around the middle, on firing the cup would compress the lead band sabot expanding it into the rifling. Some of these shells were "common" or standard rounds, explosive charge only, or "case shot", filled with balls. This shell is a "common" shell, (standard), it does not contain balls, and with a time fuze it was designed to be used against either troops in the open field or enemy cannon. The nose section is pointed, containing an open cavity for the explosive charge only, without a separator bolt. Nose section contains a plugged hole centered on the bottom, presumably this hole was used to secure the core on casting, then a plug was installed to seal the bottom. Hotchkiss patent date was cast, not stamped, into the base, "HOTCHKISS PATENT OCTOBER 9, 1855", and is typically very weak and may have been omitted entirely as the molds wore down or were replaced. Three flame grooves added so that flame from firing would pass through the sabot and ignite the fuze. Fuze employed was a Hotchkiss brass time fuze, with slots and a flange, Jones pg. 87. Projectile measures: diameter 2.9in., length 6.75in., unfired, 6.5in. sabot compressed from firing, excluding fuze, weight 8lbs., average. Research Center: Artillery4326-Hotchkiss, Ref: Dickey & George, Field Artillery (1993 Edition), pg. 167.    Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery4326-Hotchkiss.html. |
A0910...Rifled artillery projectile, Hotchkiss design, Federal manufacture, bursting shell, pattern with flame grooves, pointed nose "common" (standard), lead band sabot, Hotchkiss brass time fuze, Ordnance rifle, 3in., fired from Parrott, 10 pounder.   Projectile measures: diameter 2.9in., length 7.0in unfired, 6.75in. sabot compressed from firing, excluding fuze, weight not verified. Lead band sabot shows three lands and grooves, this one was fired from a Parrott rifle and not an Ordnance rifle. Hotchkiss did not approve use of his shells in Parrott rifles, because the small number of rifling grooves produced so much torque on the sabot, failure rate was unacceptably high. Hotchkiss brass time fuze intact. Projectile is disarmed, drill hole through paper section of the time fuze. Recovered: Spotsylvania Court House February 25, 1981, by Mac Mason. Hotchkiss shell fired from Parrott 10 pounder rifle. |
A1617...Rifled artillery projectile, Hotchkiss design, Federal manufacture, bursting shell, pattern with flame grooves, pointed nose "common" (standard), lead band sabot, Hotchkiss brass time fuze, Ordnance rifle, 3in.    Projectile was manufactured in the Federal arsenals following the invention of Andrew Hotchkiss. The pattern consisted of three parts, a nose section containing the explosive charge, a cast iron cup fitted on the bottom, and lead band sabot cast around the middle, on firing the cup would compress the lead band sabot expanding it into the rifling. Some of these shells were "common" or standard rounds, explosive charge only, or "case shot", filled with balls. This shell is a "common" shell, (standard), it does not contain balls, and with a time fuze it was designed to be used against either troops in the open field or enemy cannon. The nose section is pointed, containing an open cavity for the explosive charge only, without a separator bolt. Nose section contains a plugged hole centered on the bottom, presumably this hole was used to secure the core on casting, then a plug was installed to seal the bottom. Hotchkiss patent date was cast, not stamped, into the base, "HOTCHKISS PATENT OCTOBER 9, 1855", and is typically very weak and may have been omitted entirely as the molds wore down or were replaced. Three flame grooves added so that flame from firing would pass through the sabot and ignite the fuze. Fuze employed was a Hotchkiss brass time fuze, with slots and a flange, Jones pg. 87. Projectile measures: diameter 2.9in., length 6.75in., unfired, 6.5in. sabot compressed from firing, excluding fuze, weight 8lbs., not verified. Lead band sabot shows seven lands and grooves, fired from the Ordnance rifle. Hotchkiss brass percussion fuze intact. Metal solid, areas of pitting. Projectile is disarmed, drill hole through the paper section of the time fuze. Recovered: not known.Ref: Dickey & George, Field Artillery (1993 Edition), pg. 167. |
A1618...Rifled artillery projectile, Hotchkiss design, Federal manufacture, bursting shell, pattern with flame grooves, pointed nose "common" (standard), lead band sabot, Hotchkiss brass time fuze, Ordnance rifle, 3in.   Projectile was manufactured in the Federal arsenals following the invention of Andrew Hotchkiss. The pattern consisted of three parts, a nose section containing the explosive charge, a cast iron cup fitted on the bottom, and lead band sabot cast around the middle, on firing the cup would compress the lead band sabot expanding it into the rifling. Some of these shells were "common" or standard rounds, explosive charge only, or "case shot", filled with balls. This shell is a "common" shell, (standard), it does not contain balls, and with a time fuze it was designed to be used against either troops in the open field or enemy cannon. The nose section is pointed, containing an open cavity for the explosive charge only, without a separator bolt. Nose section contains a plugged hole centered on the bottom, presumably this hole was used to secure the core on casting, then a plug was installed to seal the bottom. Hotchkiss patent date was cast, not stamped, into the base, "HOTCHKISS PATENT OCTOBER 9, 1855", and is typically very weak and may have been omitted entirely as the molds wore down or were replaced. Three flame grooves added so that flame from firing would pass through the sabot and ignite the fuze. Fuze employed was a Hotchkiss brass time fuze, with slots and a flange, Jones pg. 87. Projectile measures: diameter 2.9in., length 6.75in., unfired, 6.5in. sabot compressed from firing, excluding fuze, weight 8lbs., not verified. This example is not marked with the patent date and is likely late war manufacture. Lead band sabot is not fired. Hotchkiss brass percussion fuze intact. Metal solid. Projectile is disarmed, drill hole through the paper section of the time fuze. Recovered: surplus stocks.Ref: Dickey & George, Field Artillery (1993 Edition), pg. 167. |
A1619...    Projectile measures: diameter 2.9in., length 6.75in., unfired, 6.5in. sabot compressed from firing, excluding fuze, weight 8lbs., not verified. Lead band sabot is not fired. Hotchkiss brass percussion fuze intact. Projectile is disarmed, drill hole through the paper section of the time fuze. Recovered: not known. |
| A1826...Rifled artillery projectile, Hotchkiss design, Federal manufacture, bursting shell, pattern with flame grooves, pointed nose "common" (standard), lead band sabot, Hotchkiss brass time fuze, Ordnance rifle, 3in. Projectile was manufactured in the Federal arsenals following the invention of Andrew Hotchkiss. The pattern consisted of three parts, a nose section containing the explosive charge, a cast iron cup fitted on the bottom, and lead band sabot cast around the middle, on firing the cup would compress the lead band sabot expanding it into the rifling. Some of these shells were "common" or standard rounds, explosive charge only, or "case shot", filled with balls. This shell is a "common" shell, (standard), it does not contain balls, and with a time fuze it was designed to be used against either troops in the open field or enemy cannon. The nose section is pointed, containing an open cavity for the explosive charge only, without a separator bolt. Nose section contains a plugged hole centered on the bottom, presumably this hole was used to secure the core on casting, then a plug was installed to seal the bottom. Hotchkiss patent date was cast, not stamped, into the base, "HOTCHKISS PATENT OCTOBER 9, 1855", and is typically very weak and may have been omitted entirely as the molds wore down or were replaced. Three flame grooves added so that flame from firing would pass through the sabot and ignite the fuze. Fuze employed was a Hotchkiss brass time fuze, with slots and a flange, Jones pg. 87. Projectile measures: diameter 2.9in., length 6.75in., unfired, 6.5in. sabot compressed from firing, excluding fuze, weight 8lbs., average. Ref: Dickey & George, Field Artillery (1993 Edition), pg. 167.    Projectile measures: diameter 2.9in., length 6.75in., unfired, 6.5in. sabot compressed from firing, excluding fuze, weight 8lbs., not verified. Lead band sabot is not fired. Hotchkiss brass percussion fuze intact and can be removed by hand. Projectile is disarmed, open fuze hole exposes empty interior. Recovered: surplus stocks. |
A2223...    Projectile measures: diameter 2.9in., length 6.5 excluding fuze, weight 5lbs., nose section only. Nose section only, lead band sabot and base separated on firing, bottom rivet plug is exposed. Hotchkiss brass time fuze intact. Projectile is disarmed, drill hole through paper section of the time fuze. Recovered: north Georgia campaign. |
A2312...    Projectile measures: diameter 2.9in., length 6.5in. sabot compressed from firing, excluding fuze, weight 8lbs. Lead band sabot shows seven lands and grooves, fired from the Ordnance rifle. Hotchkiss brass time fuze intact. Metal solid with some pitting. Shell is disarmed, drill hole through paper section of the time fuze. Recovered: not known. |
A2366...    Projectile measures: diameter 2.9in., length 6.5in. sabot compressed from firing, excluding fuze, weight 8.2lbs. Lead band sabot shows seven lands and grooves, fired from the Ordnance rifle. Hotchkiss brass time fuze intact. Shell is disarmed, drill hole through paper section of the time fuze. Recovered: Richmond Petersburg, Virginia campaign. |
A2401...Rifled artillery projectile, Hotchkiss design, Federal manufacture, bursting shell, pattern with flame grooves, pointed nose "common" (standard), lead band sabot, Hotchkiss brass time fuze, Ordnance rifle, 3in.    Projectile was manufactured in the Federal arsenals following the invention of Andrew Hotchkiss. The pattern consisted of three parts, a nose section containing the explosive charge, a cast iron cup fitted on the bottom, and lead band sabot cast around the middle, on firing the cup would compress the lead band sabot expanding it into the rifling. Some of these shells were "common" or standard rounds, explosive charge only, or "case shot", filled with balls. This shell is a "common" shell, (standard), it does not contain balls, and with a time fuze it was designed to be used against either troops in the open field or enemy cannon. The nose section is pointed, containing an open cavity for the explosive charge only, without a separator bolt. Nose section contains a plugged hole centered on the bottom, presumably this hole was used to secure the core on casting, then a plug was installed to seal the bottom. Hotchkiss patent date was cast, not stamped, into the base, "HOTCHKISS PATENT OCTOBER 9, 1855", and is typically very weak and may have been omitted entirely as the molds wore down or were replaced. Three flame grooves added so that flame from firing would pass through the sabot and ignite the fuze. Fuze employed was a Hotchkiss brass time fuze, with slots and a flange, Jones pg. 87. Lead band sabot shows seven lands and grooves, fired from the Ordnance rifle. Hotchkiss brass time fuze intact. Shell is disarmed, drill hole through paper section of the time fuze. Recovered: not known.Ref: Dickey & George, Field Artillery (1993 Edition), pg. 167. |
A2434...Rifled artillery projectile, Hotchkiss design, Federal manufacture, bursting shell, pattern with flame grooves, pointed nose "common" (standard), lead band sabot, Hotchkiss brass time fuze, Ordnance rifle, 3in.    Projectile was manufactured in the Federal arsenals following the invention of Andrew Hotchkiss. The pattern consisted of three parts, a nose section containing the explosive charge, a cast iron cup fitted on the bottom, and lead band sabot cast around the middle, on firing the cup would compress the lead band sabot expanding it into the rifling. Some of these shells were "common" or standard rounds, explosive charge only, or "case shot", filled with balls. This shell is a "common" shell, (standard), it does not contain balls, and with a time fuze it was designed to be used against either troops in the open field or enemy cannon. The nose section is pointed, containing an open cavity for the explosive charge only, without a separator bolt. Nose section contains a plugged hole centered on the bottom, presumably this hole was used to secure the core on casting, then a plug was installed to seal the bottom. Hotchkiss patent date was cast, not stamped, into the base, "HOTCHKISS PATENT OCTOBER 9, 1855", and is typically very weak and may have been omitted entirely as the molds wore down or were replaced. Three flame grooves added so that flame from firing would pass through the sabot and ignite the fuze. Fuze employed was a Hotchkiss brass time fuze, with slots and a flange, Jones pg. 87. Projectile measures: diameter 2.9in., length 5.25in., weight 5lbs., nose section only. Nose section only, lead band sabot and base separated on firing, bottom rivet plug is exposed. Hotchkiss brass time fuze intact. Metal solid with some pitting. Shell is disarmed, drill hole through paper section of the time fuze.Ref: Dickey & George, Field Artillery (1993 Edition), pg. 167. |
A2489...    Projectile measures: diameter 2.9in., length 6.5in. sabot compressed from firing, excluding fuze, weight 8.3lbs. Lead band sabot shows seven lands and grooves, fired from the Ordnance rifle. Hotchkiss brass time fuze intact. Shell is disarmed, drill hole through paper section of the time fuze. Recovered: Bermuda Hundred, Virginia. |
A2720...    Projectile measures: diameter 2.9in., length 6.5in. sabot compressed from firing, excluding fuze, weight 8.3lbs. Lead band sabot shows seven lands and grooves, fired from the Ordnance rifle. Hotchkiss brass time fuze intact. Metal solid. Shell is disarmed, drill hole through paper section of the time fuze. Recovered: Bermuda Hundred, Virginia. |
A2988...    Projectile measures: diameter 2.9in., length 6.75in., unfired, 6.5in. sabot compressed from firing, excluding fuze, weight 8.5lbs. Lead band sabot shows seven lands and grooves, fired from the Ordnance rifle. Hotchkiss brass time fuze intact. Projectile is disarmed, drill hole through paper section of the time fuze. Recovered: Fishers Hill, Virginia. |
A2989...    Projectile measures: diameter 2.9in., length 6.75in., unfired, 6.5in. sabot compressed from firing, excluding fuze, weight 8.5lbs. Lead band sabot shows seven lands and grooves, fired from the Ordnance rifle. Hotchkiss brass time fuze intact. Metal solid. Projectile is disarmed, drill hole through paper section of the time fuze. Recovered: Fishers Hill, Virginia.. |
A2990...  Projectile measures: diameter 2.9in., length 6.75in., unfired, 6.5in. sabot compressed from firing, excluding fuze, weight 8.5lbs. Lead band sabot shows seven lands and grooves, fired from the Ordnance rifle. Hotchkiss brass time fuze intact. Metal solid. Projectile is disarmed, drill hole through paper section of the time fuze. Recovered: Fishers Hill, Virginia, Charles Rutz. 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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