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


Civil War Artillery
by Harry Ridgeway


Research Center: Artillery4426-James
Rifled artillery projectile, James design, Federal manufacture, bursting shell, "common" (standard), closed base with slots, lead and tin sleeve sabot, James percussion fuze, James 14 pounder rifle, 3.8in.
Projectile was manufactured in the Federal arsenals following the invention of Charles James. The earlier hollow caged cavity was replaced with a flanged base with tapered tail, covered by a thick lead sabot, referred to as Type II. This eliminated the automatic blowout of the sabot from the hollow cavity design, but left a very heavy sabot that tended to significantly distort on firing, consequently this pattern was not particularly successful either. Shell is common shot (does not contain balls) and with percussion fuze was designed to be used against opposing cannon by striking the equipment . Fuze employed was the James brass anvil percussion fuze, "West Point" two part fuze , Jones pg. 30 . Projectile measures: diameter 3.7in., length 7.5in. weight 14lbs , with sabot.
Research Center: Artillery4426-James, Ref: Dickey & George, Field Artillery (1993 Edition), pg. 190.

Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery4426-James.html.


A0060...Rifled artillery projectile, James design, Federal manufacture, bursting shell, "common" (standard), closed base with slots, lead and tin sleeve sabot, James percussion fuze, James 14 pounder rifle, 3.8in.
Projectile was manufactured in the Federal arsenals following the invention of Charles James. The earlier hollow caged cavity was replaced with a flanged base with tapered tail, covered by a thick lead sabot, referred to as Type II. This eliminated the automatic blowout of the sabot from the hollow cavity design, but left a very heavy sabot that tended to significantly distort on firing, consequently this pattern was not particularly successful either. Shell is common shot (does not contain balls) and with percussion fuze was designed to be used against opposing cannon by striking the equipment . Fuze employed was the James brass anvil percussion fuze, "West Point" two part fuze , Jones pg. 30 . Projectile measures: diameter 3.7in., length 7.5in. weight 14lbs , with sabot. Lead sleeve sabot is fired and distorted. West Point percussion fuze is intact. Projectile is disarmed, drill hole through the side. Recovered: Vicksburg, Mississippi campaign.
Ref: Dickey & George, Field Artillery (1993 Edition), pg. 190.

A1074...Rifled artillery projectile, James design, Federal manufacture, bursting shell, "common" (standard), closed base with slots, lead and tin sleeve sabot, James percussion fuze, James 14 pounder rifle, 3.8in.
Projectile was manufactured in the Federal arsenals following the invention of Charles James. The earlier hollow caged cavity was replaced with a flanged base with tapered tail, covered by a thick lead sabot, referred to as Type II. This eliminated the automatic blowout of the sabot from the hollow cavity design, but left a very heavy sabot that tended to significantly distort on firing, consequently this pattern was not particularly successful either. Shell is common shot (does not contain balls) and with percussion fuze was designed to be used against opposing cannon by striking the equipment . Fuze employed was the James brass anvil percussion fuze, "West Point" two part fuze , Jones pg. 30 . Projectile measures: diameter 3.7in., length 7.5in. weight 14lbs, with sabot. Lead sleeve sabot is fired and distorted. West Point percussion fuze is intact. Projectile is disarmed, drill hole through the side. Recovered: Alabama coastal area.
Ref: Dickey & George, Field Artillery (1993 Edition), pg. 190.

A1563...Rifled artillery projectile, James design, Federal manufacture, bursting shell, "common" (standard), closed base with slots, lead and tin sleeve sabot, James percussion fuze, James 14 pounder rifle, 3.8in.
Projectile was manufactured in the Federal arsenals following the invention of Charles James. The earlier hollow caged cavity was replaced with a flanged base with tapered tail, covered by a thick lead sabot, referred to as Type II. This eliminated the automatic blowout of the sabot from the hollow cavity design, but left a very heavy sabot that tended to significantly distort on firing, consequently this pattern was not particularly successful either. Shell is common shot (does not contain balls) and with percussion fuze was designed to be used against opposing cannon by striking the equipment . Fuze employed was the James brass anvil percussion fuze, "West Point" two part fuze , Jones pg. 30 . Projectile measures: diameter 3.7in., length 7.5in. weight 14lbs , with sabot. Lead sleeve sabot may be unfired.. West Point percussion fuze is missing. Projectile is disarmed, open fuze hole exposes empty interior. Recovered: Vicksburg, Mississippi campaign.
Ref: Dickey & George, Field Artillery (1993 Edition), pg. 190.

A1889...Rifled artillery projectile, James design, Federal manufacture, bursting shell, "common" (standard), closed base with slots, lead and tin sleeve sabot, James percussion fuze, James 14 pounder rifle, 3.8in.

Projectile was manufactured in the Federal arsenals following the invention of Charles James. The earlier hollow caged cavity was replaced with a flanged base with tapered tail, covered by a thick lead sabot, referred to as Type II. This eliminated the automatic blowout of the sabot from the hollow cavity design, but left a very heavy sabot that tended to significantly distort on firing, consequently this pattern was not particularly successful either. Shell is common shot (does not contain balls) and with percussion fuze was designed to be used against opposing cannon by striking the equipment . Fuze employed was the James brass anvil percussion fuze, "West Point" two part fuze , Jones pg. 30 . Projectile measures: diameter 3.7in., length 7.5in. weight 13.6lb., with partial sabot. Lead sleeve sabot is fired and distorted. West Point percussion fuze intact. Projectile is disarmed, drill hole through the side. Recovered: Vicksburg, Mississippi campaign.
Ref: Dickey & George, Field Artillery (1993 Edition), pg. 190.

A2943...Rifled artillery projectile, James design, Federal manufacture, bursting shell, "common" (standard), closed base with slots, lead and tin sleeve sabot, James percussion fuze, James 14 pounder rifle, 3.8in.
Projectile was manufactured in the Federal arsenals following the invention of Charles James. The earlier hollow caged cavity was replaced with a flanged base with tapered tail, covered by a thick lead sabot, referred to as Type II. This eliminated the automatic blowout of the sabot from the hollow cavity design, but left a very heavy sabot that tended to significantly distort on firing, consequently this pattern was not particularly successful either. Shell is common shot (does not contain balls) and with percussion fuze was designed to be used against opposing cannon by striking the equipment . Fuze employed was the James brass anvil percussion fuze, "West Point" two part fuze , Jones pg. 30 . Projectile measures: diameter 3.7in., length 7.5in. weight 11.7lb, remnants of sabot only. Fired shell, sabot partially separated on firing. West Point percussion fuze intact. Projectile is disarmed, drill hole through the bottom. Recovered Vicksburg, Mississippi.
Ref: Dickey & George, Field Artillery (1993 Edition), pg. 190.


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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