Pardon the delay in replying, please. I had to replace my ancient computer. Data-transfer and getting the replacement configured took much longer than expected.
Mike, the 3.38"-diameter of the Solid-Shot balls in the fort's magazine indicates they were manufactured for use in a "State-Of-Virginia Reamed-&-Rifled 4-Pounder Smoothbore." But they could also be used in a 3.5" Blakely Rifle.
Here is my reasoning about their presence of 3.38" Solid-Shot in the High Bridge fort's magazine:
Solid-Shot ammo is needed in "Counter-Battery Fire" artillery duels. (Time-fuzed shells can kill the enemy gunners but don't significantly damage the enemy's cannon.) The Confederates do not seem to have manufactured any Bolts for FIELD-CALIBER rifled cannons during 1864-65. So, during that time, perhaps a small batch of 3.38" Solid-Shot balls were manufactured for the 3.4"-caliber and 3.5"-caliber rifled cannons in the High Bridge fort's armament.
If anybody here can come up with a logic-based alternative explanation for 3.38" Solid-Shots being in the High Bridge fort's magazine, please speak up.
John D. Bartleson Jr. wrote:
> Pete, do you know anyone who may have a sectioned Clay projectile from the High Bridge cache?
Bart, many-many years ago I saw a sawed-in-half Clay shell. It was definitely an excavated one (whose non-lead-covered iron nose was badly corroded), so presumably it is a High Bridge specimen. I cannot now recall who owned the "halfsection" I saw. I can only tell you (with certainty) that such a thing exists.
Regards,
Pete
