This is a 10 inch ball that I dug a number of years ago at Port Hudson. It was in a ravine where the 15th New Hampshire Infantry retreated to after the May 27 1863 attack. They were being shelled by several of the heavy Confederate guns that were located along the Mississippi River. There was a reference to using a 10 inch cannon ball for the headstone of James Morrison, Company H NHV, who was killed in the attack. The Union dead were moved to the National Cemetery in 1867. When I dug the ball there were a number of Union Eagle buttons next to it, in a beautiful location under some Magnolia Trees. I always thought that this could be the headstone. Maybe -- Maybe Not. It has an interesting set of lifting ears that I thought would add to the discussion on this thread. Ronnie