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

by Harry Ridgeway



Research Center: Artillery4373-Hotchkiss
Rifled artillery projectile, Hotchkiss design, Federal manufacture, bursting shell, pattern with flame grooves, rounded nose "case shot" lead balls , lead band sabot, Hotchkiss brass time fuze,Parrott 30 pounder rifle, 4.2in.
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", standard, without balls. This shell is "case shot", explosive charge with lead balls, and with a time fuze was designed to detonate above the heads of troops in the open field. This pattern features a rounded nose designed to pack additional "case shot" balls, the fuze is brass and the balls are lead. Three flame grooves added so that flame from firing would pass through the sabot and ignite the fuze. On case shot shells, there is no bottom plug, but there is a small internal pin apparently holding the separator bolt in place. Fuze employed was a Hotchkiss brass time fuze, with slots and a flange, Jones pg. 87. Projectile measures: diameter 4.1in., length 9in., weight 17lbs. , nose section only.
Research Center: Artillery4373-Hotchkiss, Ref: Bell , Heavy Ordnance, pg. 242.

Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery4373-Hotchkiss.html.


A2882...

Projectile measures: diameter 4.1in., length 9in., weight 17lbs., nose section only. Nose section only, sabot and base were separated on firing. Metal is solid with pitting, sabot and cup base missing, brass time fuze intact. Projectile is disarmed, drill hole through the paper section of the time fuze. Recovered: not known.


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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