I am directing this primarily to Carl's initial posting. In my search for who might have cast those unfinished Reads, I believe they came from Brooks & Gaynor or Churchill & Co. Both foundries began the war supplying Memphis, then moved to Columbus, Miss., after the Shiloh defeat, and ended up at Selma by 1863. Records show both made thousands of 3 inch Read bolts. The Georgia foundries were not making 3 inch bolts. No one in Virginia was making 3 inch bolts. By 1864, CS Regulations banned all use of 3 inch bolts. Some were being produced in Mobile and Montgomery during 1863, but they had the die-struck copper sabots as was intended and set up by Dr. Read himself. All of the 3 inch Read bolts dug in Virginia (I have examined about 25 examples) are of the latter style (i.e., die-struck sabot). In addition, there is no question about Selma being a primary supplier of Vicksburg and all the forts along the Mississippi. Pictured below are three Brooks & Gaynor invoices confirming their large-scale production of 3 inch Read bolts. The last document below confirms that sometimes they shipped them directly to the forts which I assume was done in a hurry and might have skipped the final finishing process. Maybe their incorrect sizing explains why so many were left behind at Snyder's Bluff. It was no typical of the Confederates to abandon ammunition. In a little while I'll post some Churchill invoices confirming their production of 3 inch Read bolts.
Woodenhead