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

Research Center: Artillery4615-Parrott

Rifled artillery projectile, Parrott design, Federal manufacture, bursting shell, "common" (standard) pattern, wrought iron sabot, Parrott percussion fuze West Point Style, Parrott 10 pounder rifle, 2.9in. Projectile was manufactured in the Federal arsenals following the prewar invention of Robert Parrott and John Read working together. The sabot system utilized was a wrought iron ring, referred to as the "Type I" sabot, rifling was precast with three flanges, because it was too stiff to take the rifling otherwise. Some of these shells were configured as case shot (approx 9.5lbs to 11lbs. with balls), or as "common" (approx 8lbs. to 9lbs. without balls). This shell is a "common" shell, (standard), it does not contain balls, and with a percussion fuze it was designed to detonate after striking enemy cannon or equipment. Fuze employed was a Parrott zinc percussion fuze, "West Point" style two part fuze, Jones pg. 79, fuze hole will have a thin milled lip. Bottom of shell usually shows a casting sprue which was rough milled, there will often be casting flaws near the base. Projectile measures: diameter 2.85in., length 8.375in. (excluding fuze), weight 8lbs. to 9lbs. Research Center: Artillery4615-Parrott, Ref: Dickey & George, Field Artillery (1993 Edition), pg. 216. Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery4615-Parrott.html.

A0065... Projectile measures: diameter 2.86in., length 8.5in. (excluding fuze), weight 9.1lbs. Sabot shows 3 lands and grooves and is intact. Percussion fuze is fully intact. Metal is solid. Projectile is disarmed: drill hole through the bottom. Recovered: Virginia campaign.

A0684... Projectile measures: diameter 2.85in., length 8.375in. (excluding fuze), weight not meaningful. Sabot shows three lands and grooves. Zinc fuze is missing. Projectile is disarmed, open fuze hole exposes empty interior, shell was filled with lead, apparently this was used as a gate pull. Recovered from the Stickley farm at the 1864 Battle of Cedar Creek. Courtesy of Mike Foreman Mike Foreman family, Old Court House Civil War Museum, Winchester, Virginia.

A1572... Projectile measures: diameter 2.85in., length 8.5in. (excluding fuze), weight 8.8lb. Sabot shows 3 lands and grooves and is intact. Percussion fuze is partial. Metal is solid. Projectile is disarmed: drill hole through the fuze. Recovered: Vicksburg campaign.

A2316... Projectile measures: diameter 2.85in., length 8.375in. (excluding fuze), weight not determined. Projectile is cut showing cross section of the short West Point style fuze, with inner seated bottom, and casting flaw in the base. Sabot shows 3 lands and grooves and is intact. Percussion fuze is partial. Metal is solid. Projectile is disarmed: cut shell everything is open. Recovered: Virginia campaign. Cut shell shows cross section.

A2781... Projectile measures: diameter 2.85in., length 8.375in. (excluding fuze), weight 8.6lbs. Sabot shows 3 lands and grooves and is intact. Percussion fuze is partial. Metal is solid. Projectile is disarmed: drill hole through the bottom. Recovered: Virginia campaign.

A2798... Projectile measures: diameter 2.85in., length 8.375in. (excluding fuze), weight 8.8lbs. Sabot shows 3 lands and grooves and is intact. Percussion fuze is intact. Metal is solid, areas of light pitting. Projectile is disarmed: drill hole through the side (not photographed). Recovered: Virginia campaign.

A2799... Projectile measures: diameter 2.85in., length 8.375in. (excluding fuze), weight 8.7lbs. Sabot shows 3 lands and grooves and is intact. Percussion fuze is partial. Metal is solid. Projectile is disarmed: drill hole through the bottom. Recovered: Virginia campaign.

A2800... Projectile measures: diameter 2.85in., length 8.375in. (excluding fuze), weight 8.8lbs. Sabot shows 3 lands and grooves and is intact. Percussion fuze is partial. Metal is solid. Projectile is disarmed: drill hole through the bottom. Recovered: Virginia campaign.

A2801... Projectile measures: diameter 2.85in., length 8.375in. (excluding fuze), weight 8.6lbs. Sabot shows 3 lands and grooves and is intact. Percussion fuze is partial, nipple on slider is visible. Metal is solid. Projectile is disarmed: drill hole through the bottom. Recovered: Virginia campaign.

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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