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

Research Center: Artillery4642-Parrott

Rifled artillery projectile, Parrott design, Federal manufacture, bursting shell, long pattern "common" (standard), wrought iron sabot, Parrott percussion fuze West Point Style, Parrott 20 pounder rifle, 3.67in. 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 five flanges, because it was too stiff to take the rifling otherwise. Some of these shells were configured as case shot, (approx. 17.5lbs to 19lbs. with balls, short, 9.25in.), or as "common" (approx 15lbs. to 17lbs. without balls, long 10.25in.). 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), edge of the fuze hole is milled thin. Bottom of shell usually shows a casting sprue which was rough milled. Projectile measures: diameter 3.62in., length 10.25in. (excluding fuze), weight 15lbs. to 17lbs. Research Center: Artillery4642-Parrott, Ref: Dickey & George, Field Artillery (1993 Edition), pg. 219. Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery4642-Parrott.html.

A1587... Projectile measures: diameter 3.66in., length 10.25in. (excluding fuze), weight 16.4lb. Wrought iron sabot shows five precast rifled lands and grooves. Percussion fuze fully intact. Metal is solid. Shell is disarmed by drill hole through the side. Recovered: Port Hudson, Louisiana.

A1588... Projectile measures: diameter 3.62in., length 10.25in. (excluding fuze), weight 17lbs. Wrought iron sabot shows five precast rifled lands and grooves. Percussion fuze fully intact. Metal is solid, with areas of pitting. Shell is disarmed by drill hole through the side, not photographed. Recovered: Port Hudson, Louisiana.

A1589... Projectile measures: diameter 3.62in., length 10.25in. (excluding fuze), weight 15lbs. to 17lbs., not verified. Wrought iron sabot shows five precast rifled lands and grooves. Percussion fuze is partial. Metal is solid, with areas of pitting. Shell is disarmed by drill hole through the side, not photographed. Recovered: Port Hudson, Louisiana.

A1590... Projectile measures: diameter 3.62in., length 10.25in. (excluding fuze), weight 15lbs. to 17lbs., not verified. Wrought iron sabot shows five precast rifled lands and grooves. Percussion fuze is partial. Metal is solid, with areas of pitting. Shell is disarmed by drill hole through the bottom. Recovered: Port Hudson, Louisiana.

A2088... Projectile measures: diameter 3.62in., length 10.25in. (excluding fuze), weight 16lbs. Wrought iron sabot shows five precast rifled lands and grooves. Percussion fuze fully intact. Metal is solid with some pitting. Shell is disarmed by drill hole through the side. Recovered: Port Hudson, Louisiana.

A2093... Projectile measures: diameter 3.62in., length 10.25in. (excluding fuze), weight 14.9lbs. Wrought iron sabot shows five precast rifled lands and grooves. Percussion fuze is partial. Metal is solid with some pitting. Shell is disarmed by drill hole through the fuze. Recovered: Port Hudson, Louisiana.

A2094... Projectile measures: diameter 3.62in., length 10.25in. (excluding fuze), weight 16lbs. Wrought iron sabot shows five precast rifled lands and grooves. Percussion fuze is partial. Metal is solid with some pitting. Shell is disarmed by drill hole through the fuze. Recovered: Port Hudson, Louisiana.

A2311... Projectile measures: diameter 3.62in., length 10.25in. (excluding fuze), weight 15.7lbs. Wrought iron sabot shows five precast rifled lands and grooves. Percussion fuze is partial. Metal is solid. Shell is disarmed by drill hole through the fuze. Recovered: Port Hudson, Louisiana.

A2342... Projectile measures: diameter 3.62in., length 10.25in. (excluding fuze), weight 16lbs. Wrought iron sabot shows five precast rifled lands and grooves. Percussion fuze is partial. Metal is solid. Shell is disarmed by drill hole through the fuze. Recovered: Mayre's Height, Fredericksburg, Virginia.

A2394... Projectile measures: diameter 3.62in., length 10.25in. (excluding fuze), weight 16.9lbs. Wrought iron sabot shows five precast rifled lands and grooves. Percussion fuze is fully intact. Metal is solid. Shell is disarmed by drill hole through the side. 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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