Everything you said is true except one word is missing - "Navy." The CS Naval Works at Selma were awesome. They cast thousands of big guns and projectiles of the highest quality. There was a separate Army depot at Selma, however, that adopted the "Arsenal" label around the start of 1863. The Army and Navy ordnance facilities operated in separate universes. A low level of hostility existed mainly coming from Cmdr. Brooke and his Navy associates directed against the Army's ordnance establishment. It heated up in Richmond during the winter of 1861-62 when Brooke experimented with the Army's current crop of large caliber projectiles, i.e. the 32 pounder Archer, lead-sabot "Tredegar" and various versions of the Dahlgren. He couldn't believe how bad they were. As he expressed in his book, it was obvious the Army ordnance officers hadn't properly tested them and didn't seem to care enough to do anything about it. Consequently, Brooke set the CS Navy on course to make their own cannon and projectiles. The CS Navy found their own sources of iron. By 1863-65, Selma's Naval Works had little or nothing to do with the relatively small Army Arsenal. When the Army's Col. White required some iron castings at Selma, he contracted with a private shop. Except in a few extreme emergencies, requesting help from the expansive Naval Works was not an option. This should be obvious in the letter below.
So Steve, for the sake of this discussion, forget the tons of castings and implements you and others have been recovering for years. Yes, the Naval Works and the private Selma Iron Works across the street dumped tons of cool stuff in the river. I've seen it in your basement. Probably more than anyone but Tredegar. My only concern here is with the Army's field caliber projectiles found on the river bottom. The Naval Works didn't make them and the Army's Selma Arsenal had no foundry. Furthermore, with the documentation made available recently, it can be affirmed that Augusta, and only Augusta, made field caliber shells with segmented interiors. Also, Augusta was asked by Richmond in early 1863 to produce a quantity of the tiny 2.25 inch Mountain Rifle shells. Later correspondence and production records confirms they did so. The little round hole in the wooden plug seen in the 2.25 inch Mullane below fits a Rains percussion "pencil point" fuze. In early 1864, Augusta sent several hundred and two of the lightweight guns directly to Gen. Forrest. For some reason, they were not accepted and Forrest received two 3 inch Rifles in their place. I haven't found the invoice, but I'll guarantee Augusta sent 3 inch Reads with segmented interiors if they have been found in his battle sites.
In summary, it appears that no field-caliber Army shells were ever made at Selma. Don't take my word for it, listen to Col. Cuyler, respected commander of the Macon Arsenal, telling Col. Burton as much in the letter below. We must look for other explanations for some of those "Selma" shells found on the river bottom. I've got the contemporary correspondence reporting the delivery of the contents of the Augusta Arsenal by rail within 24 or 48 hours of the city's surrender. I'll be happy to post any documents anyone wants to examine. This is all part of an effort to identify the makers and time period of as many projectiles as possible. There is still a lot to learn. This generation of life-long diggers and collectors has to do it or it will not get done. Its what Tom would want.
Woodenhead