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

Research Center: Artillery4651-Parrott

Rifled artillery projectile, Parrott design, Federal manufacture, bursting shell, long pattern "common" (standard), high band brass ring sabot, Parrott "improved one part" percussion fuze, Parrott 20 pounder rifle, 3.67in. Projectile was manufactured in the Federal arsenals following the invention of Robert Parrott. The sabot system utilized was a thin wide brass band secured to the base with rabbets, referred to as "type II", more flexible than the earlier wrought iron design. However performance was poor, the thin soft brass sabot either failed to take the rifling or had a tendency to separate on firing, resulting in shards of brass flying into the backs of the forward infantry. Use in smaller caliber ordnance was generally abandoned in favor of the thicker type III narrow band sabot. 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 "improved" one part design, with a flange, (Jones, Fuzes, pg. 81), edge of the fuze hole is milled flat. Bottom of shell usually shows a casting sprue which was rough milled. Projectile measures: diameter 3.6in., length 10.25in. (excluding fuze), weight 15lbs. to 17.6lbs. Research Center: Artillery4651-Parrott, Ref: Dickey & George, Field Artillery (1993 Edition), not listed, sabot style shown for 30 pounder Bell pg. 278. Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery4651-Parrott.html.

A2708... Projectile measures: diameter 3.6in., length 10.25in. (excluding fuze), weight 15lbs. to 17.6lbs. High band brass sabot fired showing five lands and grooves, fired from Parrott rifle. Improved one part percussion fuze intact. Metal quality, solid. Projectile is disarmed, drill hole through the side. Recovered: Carolina Beach, North Carolina.

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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