Artillery Round Question

[Michael Comer]

The library here in New Madrid has a large solid shot mounted at the base of a flag pole. It was recovered from here and is an artifact of the Island #10/Siege of New Madrid operation in early 1862.

I am trying to figure out what fired it. We had ironclad gunboats, mortar boats, siege guns, floating batteries and field pieces all throwing iron around here.

It is a solid shot and has a circumference of 47 inches. That's really all there is to it but I don't know enough about big guns to know what may have fired this thing. Any help much appreciated.

[Vuhginyuh]

Re: Artillery Round Question

The platforms sturdy enough to fire a 15 inch solid shot around the Cape Fear mounted Columbiads and Rodmans. I dont know of any mortars flinging solid shot here. That's no help because you have already listed those guns that would do the trick (...ironclad gunboats, mortar boats... floating batteries...)

[Marine Mike]

Re: Artillery Round Question

Columbiad is a style invented about the War of 1812 and Rodman is a design. 15 inch solid shot should weigh about 400 lbs. 15 inch Rodman dates from 1861. Dahlgren completes his design in April 1862. Battle of Island #10 concludes April 8 1862. Narrows things down a bit. I'm not aware of mortar shooting solid shot. I believe they only shot exploding shell.

[TGreene]

Re: Artillery Round Question

Typically you see artillery shells listed by diameter or weight. If you have either of those you should be able to figure it out. Here are a couple of sources that may help:
Instruction for Heavy Artillery: http://books.google.com/books?id=02c...page&q&f=false
Civil War Artillery: Click on links for projectiles: http://civilwarartillery.com/
Good luck!

Tim Greene

[GrumpyDave]

Re: Artillery Round Question

Circumference=2(pi)R

47=2(pi)R

47/6.28=R
7.48=R

R2=D

14.96=D

Your shot was fired from a 15 inch something or other. Most likley not a morter. Although solid shot could be fired from morters and was made for them, it was rarely used.

[Vuhginyuh]

Re: Artillery Round Question

Circumference=2(pi)R

47=2(pi)R

47/6.28=R
7.48=R

R2=D

14.96=D

I hope the hell there isn't a test on this.

After the Armstrong gun was disabled, USN ironclads in the channel off Fisher could paddle in close and shoot the heavy guns directly on the waterline. The damn things would skip across the surface, up the beach and bound the ditches before plowing through anything unfortunate enough to be in the way.

[Vuhginyuh]

Re: Artillery Round Question

Forgive me my Google.

[Michael Comer]

Re: Artillery Round Question

Yep, that's the round in question at the base of the flagpole. I've been checking on the armament that was available and haven't found anything that specifically says there was a 15" piece. There are some guns the Confederates had at Island #10 (where this solid shot was recovered) that are listed as heavy artillery. I can only deduce that one of those guns shot this thing but I was hoping to really narrow it down to a specific type. I'll continue the search and appreciate everyone's input so far.

[Southron Sanders, Sr.,]

Re: Artillery Round Question

Are you absolutely, positively sure it is SOLID SHOT? If not, then it probably still has its original bursting charge inside of it and it needs to be disarmed.

IF it is a solid shot, sometimes they were heated red hot in a furnace and then fired at enemy ships. Is there any record of Confederates firing "Hot Shot" at the Union vessels? Is there any indication that there was a furnace on Island No. 10? Any record of the Union vessels firing "Hot Shot" at Island No. 10?

[10TnVI]

Re: Artillery Round Question

Most references I've found mention 8 inchers, 32 pounders(rifled and smooth) and 64 pound howitzers. One account does mention the firing during the gunboat attack of a 128 pounder, called the "Lady Polk, Jr." which could be your culprit.

[Michael Comer]

Re: Artillery Round Question

Yes, I have lists of the ordnance that was used including the Lady Polk Jr. My first thought was that this round came from that gun but the size doesn't match what she would have fired. I am thinking it must have been from one of the others that are just listed as 'heavy' with no size given. It's still a mystery that hopefully I'll find some info on to solve.

In answer to the other reply, it does not have a charge in it and there were no hot shot furnaces at Island No. 10. Solid shot was basically the rule there on the Confederate side for anti-ship use.

[Sarge8]

Re: Artillery Round Question

If it is a shell, not solid shot, then it may be placed fuse-hole down. The building does not look that old. Perhaps they have a newspaper article about when the building/flag pole was dedicated. That might give you some more info on where the round came from and type. How is it anchored in place? If a shell, it may have had a piece of pipe or re-rod cemented into the fuse hole and then cemented into the base. I would hate to think it's just sitting there and not attached somehow. Too easy for some kids to roll into the street some night (not that I ever tried to do anything like that in my mis-guided youth).

Frank Tompkins

[cannoneer]

Re: Artillery Round Question

I would have to think that this was from a heavy smooth bore or a mortar. At close to 15 inches in diameter and weighing in at something around 455 pounds, based on the assumption of it being solid shot, my guess is a coastal artillery piece.