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


Civil War Artillery
by Harry Ridgeway


Research Center: Artillery5112-Read
Rifled artillery projectile, Read design, Confederate manufacture, bursting shell, long pattern with< smooth sidestapered nose, wrought iron sabot pre-cast rifling, copper time fuze, Confederate 20 pounder rifle, 3.67in.
Projectile was Confederate manufactured following the prewar invention of Robert Parrott and John Read working together. The sabot system utilized was a wrought iron ring, the Confederate version developed by Read is generally thinner than the Federal pattern. Both sides produced a smooth sided long shell, this Confederate version is distinguished by a lathe dimple in the base, a casting sprue on the nose, and the smooth sides were finished by turning on a lathe , nose on this pattern is relatively tapered. Although the wrought iron sabot was cast much thinner than the Federal counterpart, it still did not take the rifling satisfactorily, five lands and grooves were precast into this sabot . Fuze employed was a Confederate copper time fuze, two spanner holes, Jones pg. 41 . Projectile measures: diameter 3.63in., length 10.25in., weight 18lbs.
Research Center: Artillery5112-Read, Ref: Dickey & George, Field Artillery (1993 Edition), pg. 280.

Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery5112-Read.html.


A0089...

Projectile measures: diameter3.63in., length 10.25in., weight 18lbs. Projectile is marked with "H" onsmooth side below the nose taper, presumably this is an arsenal mark. Sabot is intact with five pre-rifled lands and grooves, intended forfiring from a Parrott type rifle. Copper time fuze intact. Metal quality is solid. Projectile is disarmed, drill hole throughthe paper section of the time fuze. Recovered: Virginia1969 per Mac Mason artwork (now lost to restoration).
Ridgeway collection, Old Court House Civil War Museum, Winchester, Virginia

A1903...

Projectile measures: diameter3.63in., length 10.25in., weight 18lbs. Sabot is intact with fivepre-rifled lands and grooves, intended for firing from a Parrott type rifle. Copper time fuze intact. Metal quality is solid. Projectile isdisarmed, drill hole through the paper section of the time fuze. Recovered: Atlanta, Georgia 1864 campaign.

A2325...

Projectile measures: diameter3.63in., length 10.25in., weight 18lbs. Sabot is intact with fivepre-rifled lands and grooves, intended for firing from a Parrott type rifle. Copper time fuze intact. Metal quality is solid with areas of pitting. Projectile is disarmed, drill hole through the paper section of the time fuze. Recovered: not known.

A2743...

Projectile measures: diameter3.63in., length 10.25in., weight 18lbs. Sabot is intact with fivepre-rifled lands and grooves, intended for firing from a Parrott typerifle. Copper time fuze intact. Metal quality is solid. Projectile is disarmed, drill hole through the paper section of the timefuze. 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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