| (1.) 3.43" BRITISH BLAKELY SHELL (7" HT.) | (7.) 12 LB. SHELL WITH BORMANN FUSE (4.5" HT.) |
| (2.) 2.73" WHITWORTH BOLT (9.5 " HT.) | (8.) 3.67" HOTCHKISS SHELL (7" HT.) |
(3.) 30 LB PARROTT SHELL (12" HT.) |
(9.) 3.8" JAMES SHELL TYPE II (7.75" HT.) |
| (4.) 4.16" PARROTT SHOT (10" HT.) | (10.) 3.8" JAMES SHOT TYPE I (7" HT.) |
| (5.) 10 LB PARROTT SHELL (8" HT.) | (11.) 3" HOTCHKISS SHELL (6.75" HT.) |
| (6.) 3.73" HOTCHKISS SHELL (7.25" HT.) | (12.) 3" READ SHOT (6.25" HT.) |
Antipersonnel Ammunition
(See Canister Shot, Case Shot, or Grape Shot)
12-pounder Smoothbore with
Bormann Fuse, Cleaned and Disarmed
Bormann Fuse
(See Fuses)
Canister Shot
Canister shot is a tinned-iron can (hence, canister) full of lead or iron balls that
have been packed in sawdust. Unlike solid shot, when canister is fired, the effect is much
like that of a shotgun blast: a wide dispersion spray of small lead or iron balls.
Canister is most effective for short-range, anti-personnel decimation. A peculiarity of
canister shot was the color of the smoke that attended the firing of canister. Since
canister is packed in sawdust, the resulting smoke is most often a bright yellow, and its
clouds of smoke are even thicker than those from black powder charges. Canister shot, like
case shot and grape shot, was chosen for use based on the distance of the enemy from the
piece, and the efficacy of ammunition required for that distance. When the enemy was
located at a medium range from the guns (defined as approximately 100 to 400 yards from
the artillery emplacement), canister shot was the ammunition of choice. Canister shot
would break apart as a result of the explosive force of the propelling charge, scattering
its load of shot after the fashion of a shotgun blast. Since no projectile was being fired
that could be positively affected by a rifled tube, canister shot was most appropriate for
use with smoothbore pieces which had no risk of rifling being damaged.
Case Shot
Case shot, also known as spherical case shot or Shrapnel, improved on the simple shell
by the addition of small lead or iron balls inside a thinner-walled projectile, or case.
Case shot almost always used time fuses in order to accomplish its most effective
application: exploding in the air above enemy troops so as to decimate their ranks as much
as possible. Case shot, like canister shot and grape shot, was chosen for its use based on
distance from the enemy. When a mass of enemy troops was to be fired upon at long range
(defined as a distance greater than roughly 400 yards from the placement of the pieces),
case shot was the ammunition of choice. A ball containing a small charge of gunpowder and
filled with iron or lead balls could be an effective means of thinning out troop ranks
when the case shot exploded in their vicinity and the smaller projectiles inside were
carried along under the velocity of the original charge that sent it from the mouth of the
cannon. That gave the case shot an effect and an effective range that muskets could not
achieve.
Friction Primer
By the time the War came around, the manufacture and use of slow-match, quills,
and portfires were still dealt with in period artillery manuals and still used by many
local and some state militia units. Before the introduction of the friction primer,
many pieces were equipped with a lock mechanism that bolted to the cannon and used
percussion caps, similar to those used to fire muskets, and required only a short pull of
the lanyard to rock the hammer from its safe position to the firing position.
However, a far better way had been found to set off the cannons' charges. All
other methods were supplanted by the friction primer.
The friction primer is a small diameter brass tube, with roughly a 1/8" inner diameter, that is open at one end. At the closed end, a small hole roughly the same diameter as the inner diameter of the tube is drilled on one side and filled with a short length of brass tubing that is soldered into place.
Opposite the short length of tubing is a hole that receives the priming wire, a piece of brass wire with a flattened and a serrated end. The short tube is lined with a friction powder that is similar in composition to the head of a friction match. The priming wire is inserted through the head of the primer and into the short tube; the short tube is then crimped to hold the end of the serrated wire in place, while the longer end of the priming wire is twisted into a loop.
Shellac is then used to seal the head of the friction primer. When it dries, the main body of the friction primer is filled with FF or FFF powder, and the open end of the tube is sealed with wax to retain the powder. Effectively airtight and waterproof, the friction primer is consequently more reliable than the linstock.
On the cannon, the primer is inserted into the vent hole of the piece, and the lanyard is hooked to the loop of wireat the top of the friction primer tube by a small hook. Once the lanyard is pulled, the serrated end of the priming wire scrapes the friction composition, igniting; and, in turn, the ignited friction composition sets off the black powder in the main tube of the primer. When the powder in the main tube of the friction primer ignites, it sends a flash of flame down the vent and into the opening in the charge created when the vent prick was driven into the charge, exposing the powder of tha charge. The delay from the friction primer igniting the friction composition until the charge in the cannon's tube explodes is almost nonexistent.
The amount of pull required to detonate today's friction primer may vary between 20 and 60 pounds, approximately, but most commonly will be in the range of 35 to 40 pounds.
Fuses
Shell and case shot are different from solid shot, canister, and grape in that the
latter group is meant to hit an enemy more or less directly, while the former two are
designed to explode either at or in general proximity to the target. That is accomplished
with some form of a fuse (or "fuze", as it was commonly spelled then). Fuses
were of two types: the percussion fuse which exploded on impact; and the time fuse, which
burned slowly enough to ignite the main charge of the projectile after an interval of
seconds.
Technologically speaking, the percussion fuse was certainly the more sophisticated of the two types. Percussion fuses explode on impact. In most cases, they use some variety of spring or slider mechanism that arms the ammunition by inertia, throwing a plunger to the rear upon its firing that then allows it to fall forcibly against a percussion cap at impact. Many percussion fuses were patented during the War, but none were used extensively. Unsuitable for routine field use based on history and experience, the complex, often delicate construction left legitimate concern that the mechanisms might arm during transportation and loading.
By contrast, the time fuse was far simpler technologically, but it was also more reliable and certainly more stable than the percussion fuse in many regards. That's not at all to suggest that it was infallible, or even tremendously reliable; but relative to the percussion fuse, it had much to recommend it over the percussion fuse method.
The simplest - or, perhaps more accurately, the crudest - type of time fuse was a tapered wooden cylinder, hollowed nearly to the most tapered ends' point. The fuse was packed with a mealy powder that was moistened with alcohol. Each lot, after it had dried, would then be tested by the Arsenal to assess the burn rate. The rate at which it burned would be marked in tenths of inches on the fuses packed with that lot.
Lest that leave you with the impression that the rate of burn on each lot had been reliably established, then let that be corrected here. Even with that methodology, the time fuses would be rather irregular in their rates of burning due to several variables ranging from the quality of the mealy powder to the packing of the mealy powder. In the field, the fuse would be cut with a fuse saw to the necessary length in order for it to burn for the approximately desired time.
A fuse of similar form made of paper eliminated a fair degree of that inconsistency since it could be packed longitudinally before being wrapped. Cut to length with a knife, the paper fuse would be inserted into a wooden fuse plug in the hole of the shell. Some used a metal fuse plug which could be screwed into the fuse hole of the shell, but they were nowhere near as common as the wooden fuse plug.
Another advantage of the paper fuse was that it could be color-coded with ease. A yellow fuse burned for 5 seconds per inch of fuse; a green fuse burned 7 seconds per inch; and blue burned for 10 seconds per inch of fuse.
The Federal Ordnance Department ordered that only the Frankfort Arsenal would manufacture paper fuses, believing that by doing so they would be able to establish a standard with little to no variation, and enforce a higher degree of quality control. They were pretty much right about that. Their decision resulted in a consistent, uniform product. The Confederate Ordnance Bureau was unable to imitate the Federal Ordnance Department in that sort of decision; consequently, inconsistent, unreliable fuses were the lot and burden of Confederate artillerymen.
Even though the wooden and paper fuses were considered more reliable than the percussion fuses, it was a matter of relativity. Wooden and paper fuses were unreliable, too. Ride across a field one time on a horse at a gallop, and you will recognize that there are many impacts that take place between the saddle and your posterior. Fuses inside a limber chest being raced across a field or even ridden slowly down an unpaved lane were susceptible to the shock impacts of travel. The shock of such travel, or of use in the field, could easily break up the solid composition of the powder. Consequently, fire could penetrate far more quickly to the main charge than the Gunner intended or thought he was going to see.
As the War dragged on, the unsophisticated fuse enjoyed further development. All fuses were based on the premise that a substance (in this case, powder or quick match) burned at a known, constant rate. This would have been a valid enough premise, had it been possible for the arsenals to achieve the necessary consistency and integrity in the powder they used, and could they have shielded the fuse from climatic influences.
The best answer was available, reproducible, and reasonably solved all of the problems experienced with the paper fuse - the Bormann fuse.
The Bormann fuse became the paradigm for fuse design, achieving immediate popularity as a reliable, easily-manufactured, waterproof fuse. The Belgian government had been able to keep it a state secret for years, but the secret got away from them in the 1850’s. Conceptually, the Bormann fuse was simple: a groove went around the circumference of a squat, threaded cylinder of metal; a channel at one end of the groove led to the center of the fuse, perforated for detonation access with the charge inside the shell at a set rate. Sealed with a thin sheet of tin at the top of the fuse, the tin was graduated in seconds so as to be easily read. The No. 6 man, commonly posted at the limber chest, would screw the fuse into the shell, punching a hole in the fuse at the desired number of seconds. The fuse would then be ignited by the main charge behind the projectile. The Bormann fuse had the advantages of consistency, reliability, and being virtually impervious to inclement climatic conditions.
With so many advantages, it is hard to understand why it was that the Bormann fuse did not enjoy universal use - until you look at the manufacturing end of the product. It was not an item that could be easily mass-produced then. While the Bormann fuse and its imitators were extremely popular with artillerists of the War Between the States, the expense and long manufacturing lead time made the continued use of wooden and paper fuses a necessity.
How were time fuses ignited? The main charge behind the charge would ignite the time fuse. Taking advantage of the necessary windage for the piece, flames were enabled to flicker forward around the shell, and those flames would touch off the fuse. The presence of the sabot was important in ensuring Gunners that their No. 2 men would load the ammunition with the fuse facing forward, avoiding the chance that the main charge might force the fuse into the shell. If the main charge forced the fuse into the shell, the shell would explode prematurely.
Grape Shot
Grape Shot is much like canister. However, grape shot uses fewer, albeit larger,
balls held together with iron rings, or bound together with twine and fabric. It was
not the most common ammunition issued to field and foot artillery, being used more
commonly in the Navy; but it was used to some degree by the field artillery, too. In most
cases where troops themselves write of having been under fire of grape shot, or seeing
masses of troops mowed down by grape shot, they are not technically correct - most of the
time, canister was the ammunition of choice for mass, close-up slaughter.
Grape shot, like canister shot and case shot, was chosen for use based upon the distance of the enemy from the guns. Grape shot was effective for close range firing,, when the enemy was almost upon the artillery, at a practical maximum range of 200 yards and a practical minimum range of a few feet from the muzzle of the piece. Grape shot's primary resemblance to canister shot lay in the fact that they had a wide dispersion spray, but with this major difference: grape shot lacked the constraining factor of the can or container itself, which meant that the shot had the ability to cover a broader area sooner. However, owing to the fact that the balls that made up the grape shot were larger than those in the canister, it had less effective travel distance from the muzzle.
The terms "quilted shot", "quilted grape", and "quilted grape shot" all derive from the clustering the shot by means of .binding it all together with fabric and twine.
Gunpowder
Gunpowder was, of course, the propellant which, when ignited, projected the ammunition
from the cannons. Following is an excerpt from A Course of Instruction in Ordnance and
Gunnery by J.G. Benton, published in 1859, which was used in the instruction of cadets
at the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York that details the ingredients
of gunpowder and how it was mixed.
Gunpowder
§1. Gunpowder, and the compositions of pyrotechny, are the means used in modern warfare
to propel projectiles, explode mines, destroy ships and buildings, and furnish light and
signals for the operations of an army at night. They are simply mechanical mixtures of
substances which give out light, heat, and gas in their combustion, or chemical union with
each other.
The two classes of substances generally used for these purposes are the nitrates and chlorates on one hand, and charcoal, sulphur, antimony, &c., on the other. The former class contains a large amount of oxygen, which is a strong supporter of combustion; and the latter embraces those substances which have a powerful affinity for it.
Explosion is a phenomenon due to the sudden enlargement of the volume of a body, as in the case of combustion when a solid body is rapidly converted into one of vapor or gas. If this change of state be accompanied by the development of a large amount of heat, the explosive effect will be very much increased.
Gunpowder is an explosive substance, formed by the mechanical mixture of nitrate of potassa, sulphur, and charcoal.
The parts performed by these ingredients in the explosion will be best understood by an examination of the following table:
Combustion of Gunpowder
Before Combustion: After Combustion:
3 parts of carbon, 1 part of nitrate of potassa,
3 carbon, 6 oxygen,
3 carbonic acid (gas) 1 nitrogen,
1 nitrogen (gas),
1 potassium,
1 sulphide of potassium (solid),
1 part of sulphur,
1 sulphur.
Gunpowder can be made of nitrate of potassa and charcoal alone; but it would not be so strong as when sulphur is present; besides, the substance of the grain would be friable, would have considerable affinity for moisture, and would rapidly foul the arms in which it is used.
Theoretically, sulphur does not contribute directly to the explosive force of gunpowder by furnishing materials for gas; but by uniting with the potassium it affords a large amount of heat, and prevents the carbonic acid from uniting with the potassa and forming a solid compound - the carbonate of potassa. It is to the heat and carbonic acid thus formed that gunpowder mainly owes its explosive force.
The strength of gunpowder, or amount of work which a certain quantity is capable of performing, depends on the mass of the powder and the velocity with which its gaseous particles are evolved. This velocity of evolution of the gaseous particles, or "quickness", depends on the purity, proportion, and incorporation of the ingredients, and on the size, form, and density of the grains....
Hotchkiss Ammunition
(See Rifled Ammunition)
James Ammunition
(See Rifled Ammunition)
Paper Fuse
(See Fuses)
Parrott Ammunition
(See Rifled Ammunition)
Percussion Fuses
(See Fuses)
Read Ammunition
(See Rifled Ammunition)
Rifled Ammunition
There were four primary means by rifle ammunition engaged the rifling on a cannon,
exemplified by the manufacturers’ types: Hotchkiss, James, Parrott or Read, and
Shenkl.
Hotchkiss ammunition was manufactured as three components. The upper bolt was separated from the lower base by a lead ring sabot around the exterior. Firing it forced the two iron parts together in the manner of an accordion, which then expanded the intermediate lead ring that engaged the rifling.
James shot had gas pass through slots in the lower part of the projectile which, in turn, forced the thin metal sabot to expand and engage the rifling.
The Parrott and Read designs (two virtually identical designs by two different manufacturers) employed a soft metal cup, typically made of brass, located in the base that would expand and catch the rifling.
Last, Shenkl's ammunition utilized a papier-mâché sabot over the tapered rear of the shell. When the charge was discharged, the explosion forced it forward and it expanded, thus enabling it to grab hold of the rifling.
Shell
Shell is a hollow iron projectile filled with a charge of black powder that bursts.
All round shell and some percentage of rifle shell used a time fuse to ignite the bursting
charge. Rifle shells, however, could also use percussion fuses.
Shenkl Ammunition
(See Rifled Ammunition)
Shrapnel
Named after its inventor, Henry Shrapnel, shrapnel is an integral part of a type of
case shot. (See Case Shot)
Solid Shot
Cast-iron solid shot, the "cannonball" we associate with period artillery,
was used for smoothbores. Rifles employed an elongated projectile known as a
"bolt". While both were effective for counter-battery fire or attacking
fortifications, it was the superior power of the rifle bolt that made masonry
fortifications obsolete, as demonstrated by the ease with which the walls of Fort Pulaski
were breached early in the War.
Time Fuse
(See Fuses)
Wooden Fuse
(See Fuses)
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