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

by Harry Ridgeway



Research Center: Artillery4361-Hotchkiss
Rifled artillery projectile, Hotchkiss design, Federal manufacture, solid bolt, pattern without flame grooves, pointed nose with deep hollow cup , lead band sabot, James 14 pounder rifle, 3.8in.
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. Shell is solid casting, or "bolt" and was designed to be used against opposing cannon by striking the equipment, use of this light bolt had limited applicability and is relatively scarce in the smaller calibers. Nose of this pattern is pointed, with a deep cup or hollow area in the lower part of the nose, this was probably an effort to shift the center of gravity forward. Hotchkiss patent date was cast, not stamped, into the base, "HOTCHKISS PATENT OCTOBER 9, 1855 / MAY 14, 1861", and is typically weak. Projectile measures: diameter 3.7in., length 7.0in. (excluding fuze), weight 13.7lb.
Research Center: Artillery4361-Hotchkiss, Ref: Dickey & George, Field Artillery (1993 Edition), pg.171.

Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery4361-Hotchkiss.html.



A0055...

Projectile measures: diameter 3.7in., length 7.0in. (excluding fuze), weight 13.7lb., not verified. Sabot is fired showing 15 lands and grooves, fired from James rifle. Projectile is disarmed: casting is solid iron. Recovered: Vicksburg, Mississippi.

A0433...Rifled artillery projectile, Hotchkiss design, Federal manufacture, solid bolt, pattern without flame grooves, pointed nose with deep hollow cup , lead band sabot, James 14 pounder rifle, 3.8in.
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. Shell is solid casting, or "bolt" and was designed to be used against opposing cannon by striking the equipment, use of this light bolt had limited applicability and is relatively scarce in the smaller calibers. Nose of this pattern is pointed, with a deep cup or hollow area in the lower part of the nose, this was probably an effort to shift the center of gravity forward. Hotchkiss patent date was cast, not stamped, into the base, "HOTCHKISS PATENT OCTOBER 9, 1855 / MAY 14, 1861", and is typically weak. Projectile measures: diameter 3.7in., length 7.0in. (excluding fuze), weight 13.7lb., not verified. Lead band sabot shows 15 lands and grooves, fired from James 14 pounder rifle. Projectile is disarmed: casting is solid iron. Recovered: Vicksburg, Mississippi.
Ref: Dickey & George, Field Artillery (1993 Edition), pg.171.

A0622...Rifled artillery projectile, Hotchkiss design, Federal manufacture, solid bolt, pattern without flame grooves, pointed nose with deep hollow cup , lead band sabot, James 14 pounder rifle, 3.8in.
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. Shell is solid casting, or "bolt" and was designed to be used against opposing cannon by striking the equipment, use of this light bolt had limited applicability and is relatively scarce in the smaller calibers. Nose of this pattern is pointed, with a deep cup or hollow area in the lower part of the nose, this was probably an effort to shift the center of gravity forward. Hotchkiss patent date was cast, not stamped, into the base, "HOTCHKISS PATENT OCTOBER 9, 1855 / MAY 14, 1861", and is typically weak. Projectile measures: diameter 3.7in., length 7.0in. (excluding fuze), weight 13.7lb., not verified. Lead band sabot shows 15 lands and grooves, fired from James 14 pounder rifle. Projectile is disarmed: casting is solid iron. Recovered: Vicksburg, Mississippi.
Ref: Dickey & George, Field Artillery (1993 Edition), pg.171.

A1631...

Projectile measures: diameter 3.7in., length 7.0in. (excluding fuze), weight 13.7lb. Lead band sabot shows 15 lands and grooves, fired from James 14 pounder rifle. Projectile is disarmed: casting is solid iron. Recovered: Monet Ferry, Louisiana.

A1632...

Projectile measures: diameter 3.7in., length 7.0in. (excluding fuze), weight 13.7lb., not verified. Lead band sabot shows 15 lands and grooves, fired from James 14 pounder rifle. Projectile is disarmed: casting is solid iron. Recovered: Vicksburg, Mississippi.

A1633...

Projectile measures: diameter 3.7in., length 7.0in. (excluding fuze), weight 13.7lb, not verified. Lead band sabot shows 15 lands and grooves, weak rifling fired from James 14 pounder rifle with worn out or fouled bore. Projectile is disarmed: casting is solid iron. Recovered: Vicksburg, Mississippi, Yoste's battery.

A2917...

Projectile measures: diameter 3.7in., length 7.0in. (excluding fuze), weight 10.3lbs., no sabot. Lead band sabot separated on firing. Xray shows cup cavity in the nose. Projectile is disarmed: casting is solid iron. Recovered: war trophy, gray paint is from an old display.

A2954...

Projectile measures: diameter 3.7in., length 7.0in. (excluding fuze), weight 6.4lbs, nose only. Sabot and base separated on firing. Projectile is disarmed: casting is solid iron. Recovered: Virginia campaign, not confirmed.


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
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