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

by Harry Ridgeway



Research Center: Artillery4328-Hotchkiss
Rifled artillery projectile, Hotchkiss design, Federal manufacture, bursting shell, pattern with flame grooves, flat top "common shot", 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 configured as case shot, filled with balls, or as "common", without balls. This shell is "common shot", explosive charge only, and with a time fuze was designed to detonate above the heads of troops in the open field. This pattern features a nearly flat nose and may have been designed to pack additional "case shot" balls, however, few of these were used and cut examples reveal that at least some of them were sent into the field configured as "common shot". This pattern was a late war development and may have been experimental, and it would appear that this evolved into the next generation pattern with the 15 second fuze after the war. Three flame grooves added so that flame from firing would pass through the sabot and ignite the fuze. Shell cavity is single cavity. Bottom of shell is rounded. Fuze employed was a Hotchkiss brass time fuze, with slots and a flange, Jones pg. 87. Projectile measures: diameter 2.9in., length 6.5in unfired, 6.25in. sabot compressed from firing, excluding fuze, weight 9lbs.
Research Center: Artillery4328-Hotchkiss, Ref: Dickey & George, Field Artillery (1993 Edition), pg. 168.

Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery4328-Hotchkiss.html.



A0299...

Projectile measures: diameter 2.94in., length 6.25in. (excluding fuze), weight 8.9lbs. 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: Spanish Fort Alabama.

A1818...

Projectile measures: diameter 2.9in., length 6.5in unfired, 6.25in. sabot compressed from firing, excluding fuze, weight 9lbs., not verified. Lead band sabot is not fired. Hotchkiss brass time fuze intact. Projectile is disarmed, drill hole through paper section of the time fuze. Recovered: Franklin, Tennessee.


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.

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