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

Research Center: Artillery4681-Parrott

Rifled artillery projectile, Parrott design, Federal manufacture, solid bolt, pattern with "flat top", high band rabbeted brass band sabot, Parrott 30 pounder rifle, 4.2in. 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. The thin soft brass sabot had a tendency to separate from the shell on firing, rendering it unsatisfactory for field use, but it was used extensively on heavy siege artillery where friendly infantry would not generally be located forward of the fire. Shell is solid casting, or "bolt" and was designed to be used against opposing cannon by striking the equipment. Nose of this pattern is slightly tapered, top is flat, Bottom of shell usually shows a casting sprue which was rough milled. Projectile measures: diameter 4.1in., length 9.5in., weight 30lbs. Research Center: Artillery4681-Parrott, Ref: Bell, Heavy Ordnance, pg. 273. Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery4681-Parrott.html.

A0162... Projectile measures: diameter 4.13in., length 9.6in. (excluding fuze), weight 30lbs. High band sabot shows 5 lands & grooves, fired from Parrott rifle. Metal strong. Projectile is disarmed, solid iron casting never had a cavity or bursting charge. Recovered: Richmond, Petersburg, Virginia campaign. Ref: Bell, Heavy Ordnance, pg. 273., actual example photographed.

A1137... Shell is struck. There is major impact on the side of the shell, shell cracked on impact and has now separated. This was found at Port Hudson, which has no rocks, only Mississippi mud. To receive such a severe impact, this shell had to either strike a cannon or another projectile! Sabot separated on firing and is missing. Metal is solid, minor areas of pitting. Projectile is disarmed: solid iron casting never had a cavity or bursting charge. Recovered: Port Hudson, Louisiana, by Emile Mancuso. Projectile is struck.

A1877... Projectile measures: diameter 4.1in., length 9.5in., weight 30lbs. High band sabot shows 5 lands & grooves, fired from Parrott rifle. Metal strong. Projectile is disarmed, solid iron casting never had a cavity or bursting charge. Recovered: Richmond, Petersburg, Virginia campaign.

A1598... Projectile measures: diameter 4.1in., length 9.5in., weight 30lbs. Projectile is marked on the side: "PATENTED / 1861". High band sabot separated on firing. Metal strong. Projectile is disarmed, casting is solid iron. Recovered: Vicksburg, Mississippi campaign.

A2158... Projectile measures: diameter 4.1in., length 9.5in., weight 30lbs. High band sabot shows 5 lands & grooves, fired from Parrott rifle. Metal strong. Projectile is disarmed, solid iron casting never had a cavity or bursting charge. Recovered: Richmond, Petersburg, Virginia campaign.

A2813... Projectile measures: diameter 4.1in., length 9.5in., weight 30lbs. High band sabot shows 5 lands & grooves, fired from Parrott rifle. Metal strong. Projectile is disarmed, solid iron casting never had a cavity or bursting charge. Recovered: Richmond, Petersburg, 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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