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

Research Center: Artillery4647-Parrott

Rifled artillery projectile, Parrott design, Federal manufacture, bursting shell, short pattern "case shot" balls packed in sulfur matrix, wrought iron sabot, Parrott time fuze with a flange, 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 "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. Lead case shot balls are packed in yellow or sulfur matrix. Fuze employed was a Parrott zinc time fuze, typically the pattern with a flat flange, (Jones pg. 77)., top of the fuze hole is milled wide to seat the flange. Bottom of shell usually shows a casting sprue which was rough milled. Projectile measures: diameter 3.62in., length 9.25 in. (excluding fuze), 17.5lbs to 19lbs. Research Center: Artillery4647-Parrott, Ref: Dickey & George, Field Artillery (1993 Edition), pg. 219. Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery4647-Parrott.html.

A0067... Projectile measures: diameter 3.6in., length 9.0in. (excluding fuze), weight 13lbs. (empty). Wrought iron sabot shows five precast rifled lands and grooves. Parrott time fuze is replacement but is correct style and can be removed by hand, "W" marking is clear. Metal strong, the shell contained about 20 lead balls all of which are original to this shell and were removed through the fuze hole during restoration. Shell is disarmed, open fuze hole exposes empty interior. Recovered: Virginia campaign.

A1583... Projectile measures: diameter 3.62in., length 9.0in. (excluding fuze), weight 17.6lb. Wrought iron sabot shows five precast rifled lands and grooves. Parrott time fuze is partial. Metal is solid, Shell is disarmed by drill hole through the paper section of the fuze. Recovered: Port Hudson, Louisiana.

A2084... Projectile measures: diameter 3.62in., length 9.25 in. (excluding fuze), 18lbs. Wrought iron sabot shows five precast rifled lands and grooves. Parrott time fuze is partial. Metal is solid. Shell is disarmed by drill hole through the paper section of the fuze. Recovered: Port Hudson, Louisiana.

A2085... Projectile measures: diameter 3.62in., length 9.25 in. (excluding fuze), 18lbs. Wrought iron sabot shows five precast rifled lands and grooves. Parrott flanged time fuze is partial. Metal is solid, shell is cut exposing the interior with sulfur matrix and case shot balls. The powder chamber is way off center in this example. Shell is disarmed, cut shell exposes interior. Recovered: Port Hudson, Louisiana. Cut shell shows cross section.

A2370... Projectile measures: diameter 3.62in., length 9.25 in. (excluding fuze), 17.9lbs. Wrought iron sabot shows five precast rifled lands and grooves. Parrott time fuze is partial. Metal is solid. Shell is disarmed by drill hole through the paper section of the fuze. Recovered: Port Hudson, Louisiana.

A2779... Projectile measures: diameter 3.62in., length 9.25 in. (excluding fuze), 19lbs. Wrought iron sabot shows five precast rifled lands and grooves. Parrott time fuze is partial. Metal is solid. Shell is disarmed by drill hole through the paper section of the fuze. Recovered: not known.

A2887... Projectile measures: diameter 3.62in., length 9.25 in. (excluding fuze), weight approx 19lbs. Wrought iron sabot shows five precast rifled lands and grooves. Parrott flanged time fuze is partial. Metal is solid, shell is cut exposing the interior with sulfur matrix and case shot balls. Shell is disarmed, cut shell exposes interior. Recovered: Virginia campaign. Cut shell shows cross section.

A2969... Projectile measures: diameter 3.62in., length 9.25 in. (excluding fuze), 19lbs. Wrought iron sabot shows five precast rifled lands and grooves. Parrott flanged time fuze marked "W" can be removed by hand. Metal is solid. Shell is disarmed, removable fuze exposes interior filled with case shot balls in sulfur matrix. Recovered: Fishers Hill, Virginia.

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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