Bullet and Shell Civil War Projectiles Forum
Relic Discussion => Artillery => Topic started by: CarlS on October 27, 2020, 07:03:28 AM
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One item I picked up at Gettysburg was this round previously known as a pinched waste Confederate Armstrong round but now known to be made for the Clay Rifle. It is not fired and came from the group of well known CS shells found at High Bridge, VA. I was very excited to add this to my collection. Mike ran across this at the show first but was quite kind to pass on it and let me get this for my collection. Much appreciated.
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I love that shell Carl !
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Very nice shell Carl.
I pass high bridge almost weekly making deliveries from Richmond to Lynchburg and always makes me think about the picture of the cache of shells that were found there.
The picture is in the book "The Illustrated History of the American Civil War" for those who haven't seen it.
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Good reminder. I'll have to dig it up and share it.
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Carl
One of my dear long time friends is Tom Brooks who is pictured in that famous photo and who along with two buddies found that great pile of shells? He lives here in my town and I would gladly hook you guys up! Your ole friend and fellow relic hunter. Gary
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Here is one of the pictures showing the shells (or at least the bulk of them) that they found. That is Tom Brooks on the right and his friend Mike Petrakos on the left.
Gary: That would be neat to do. I'll take you up on it if I can make it down to Jacksonville.
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Mike provided me (eight years ago) with a link to the High Bridge cache of shells recovery story - it was on Plez Bagby's site.
The link no longer works - does anyone have that story?
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Are those the Clay's in the middle of the picture?
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Looks like it to me. I was told only 13 were ever recovered, but there appear to only be 10 in that photo.
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In the article that I read, it stated that at the time (1960-61) that they were selling the rounds for between $2.50 and $12.50 apiece. Ah, those were the days. :)
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Might be that some of the Clay's found a home before the picture got taken. Gary can you check with Tom to see how many he remembers there being? I think I recall there being an article oni the NSTCW too.
RedBob: I paid a little more than that!
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I have what I believe is a copy of the article by W.L. Graham that I believe was in North South Trader titled Projectiles Tell Story of '65 Action At High Bridge Over Appomattox River.. It covered more about the projectiles themselves and there was an article by J.S. Wamsley titled The Iron Treasure of High Bridge that was on the Virginia Civil War Relics website in 2013. This article was more an overview of the whole recovery story. BTW the Clay is a real beauty.
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Does anyone know if these projectiles were imported? Maybe they were made in Richmond by Samson & Pae who repaired the exploded breech in 1862. Initially, I thought these were Armstrongs.
Woodenhead
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Dickey and George labeled these 12 or 13 recovered shells as British 3 inch lead sleeved Armstrong common shells. In the NST's article, Graham makes the case that they were for the Clay Rifle and not an Armstrong. There was reportedly at least one of these rounds recovered at Dutch Gap during the War.
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Carl,
I will follow up with Tom this weekend. I know he has a photo of Tom Dickey in the hole where the cashe came from about 12-15 feet into the hole but all he found was a 6lber solid shot! ( Tom Dickey is on another thread but the story has cross over appeal) just tell me if you want a letter or to hook up for lunch if you get down my way and I'll make it happen. In the mean time I'll check on the number of shells found 12 or 13. It also seems like he told me that there may have been a few shells around no long ago in someone's basement? I'll follow up on that too. Gary
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Woodenhead: These shells were very likely made here as Bill Graham's article indicates. There are two thinks that really indicate CS manufacture when I look at it:
1) CS Copper fuse adapter in the fuse hole. It is not likely if they were Armstrongs they came from England able to use that adapter.
2) There is a very big lathe dimple in the base. I presume that this was to true up and size the thick lead covering so it would fit into the bore easily and be centered so as to not wobble in flight.
I remember when I was young these being called Wasp Waist Armstrong shells due to their physical appearance. It would appear that when fired they only engaged the rifling at the thicker part of the lead at the top and bottom. It would be great to see a fired example.
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I have what I believe is a copy of the article by W.L. Graham that I believe was in North South Trader titled Projectiles Tell Story of '65 Action At High Bridge Over Appomattox River.. It covered more about the projectiles themselves ...
Thanks - a Google search turned up an index that indicates it was in The Artilleryman, Vol. 29, No. 2, 2008.
https://tinyurl.com/y3re3xds
(I'm not smart enough to link directly to the index - open the WorldPress.com link.)
Is either (or both) article in a form that wouldn't be difficult to provide a copy (copies)?
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Here's what I've got on the Clay shells. I'll bet at least one intact example has been found at Bermuda Hundred. I don't think the lead was sized closely. Just close enough to jam into the breech.
Woodenhead
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I think I have the only fuse to one of these out of the shell (see Jones page 46). It looks like a regular CS copper time fuse adapter at the top, but the threads are 8tpi. I have to wonder why if it was made on Southern soil they would make the threads unique to any other Confederate made shell.
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I agree. I estimate about 100 of these lead-covered rounds crossed the ocean with the lone gun. If only approx. 13 rounds were available, the South would never have gone to the trouble of repairing the gun and making special fuzes.
Woodenhead