Man Killed By Civil War Cannon Ball

bostinelosd · 05-06-2008, 09:35 AM

Civil War Cannonball Kills Collector

Wow, how horrible. Its amazing how dangerous these things still are. Would be cool to find stuff like this though. Im not a huge history buff, I do appreciate such things as this.

Cyclonepride · 05-06-2008, 10:01 AM

Originally Posted by bostinelosd

Civil War Cannonball Kills Collector

Wow, how horrible. Its amazing how dangerous these things still are. Would be cool to find stuff like this though. Im not a huge history buff, I do appreciate such things as this.

I saw that as well. I agree it would be cool. I picked up a civil war bullet in SC when I went down there, but it was store bought, so not quite the same as finding it yourself. I do search for arrowheads when I have time, but I've probably found 3 or 4 items for about 100 hours of looking. Nothing explosive though!

ketchupnmustard · 05-06-2008, 10:03 AM

I didn't know that cannonballs from the Civil War era were explosive. I just thought they were nothing more than just a big ball of solid metal.

bostinelosd · 05-06-2008, 10:04 AM

Originally Posted by ketchupnmustard

I didn't know that cannonballs from the Civil War era were explosive. I just thought they were nothing more than just a big ball of solid metal.

Same here. Too bad this guy had to die in order to educate me.

Cybone · 05-06-2008, 10:07 AM

I don't consider myself a history buff either, but I can and do appreciate an items significance in history.

I went to the Ford Museum in Detroit years ago. It was full of planes, trains, cars, motorcycles and stuff like that. However, to me at least, the most impressive pieces of history on display were a wooden box and stained chair.

The box was George Washington's footlocker. The chair was the same chair Abraham Lincoln was sitting in when he was shot at Fords Theater. You could still make out the blood stains on the chair.

cmoneyr · 05-06-2008, 10:13 AM

This just in: Mans wife sues the confederate army over the death of her husband, says defect in production of cannonball led to death.

Phaedrus · 05-06-2008, 10:18 AM

Actually, technically "cannonballs" are not explosive. But "shell" is.

And the "bombs bursting in air" as written in the Star Spangled Banner, is talking about "shell" rounds. So, "shell" was common at least as early as 1812.

FYI - The different kinds of blackpowder, muzzle loader rounds include:

"ball" - big old chunk o' iron
"shell" - A hollow ball with a fuze, which lights when fired
"shot" - Think big-friggin' shotgun round
"canister" - A big can of shot, which opens after it goes downrange a little way.
"chain" - Used for dismasting ships; two smaller balls, with a chain welded to them; also used against people at short range.

There's more, but I think those are the main kind.

bostinelosd · 05-06-2008, 10:20 AM

Originally Posted by Phaedrus

"chain" - two smaller balls, with a chain welded to them; also used against people at short range.
.

That would suck. If it can dismast a ship, I cant imagine what it would do to a person. Messy.

Phaedrus · 05-06-2008, 10:25 AM

Just read the article.

Complete b.s. in nearly every detail. 8" mortars were deployed on rafts in Petersburg, but were not designed to be used against shipping. Don't know where they got the "waterproof" thing. All shell is sealed against the elements, pretty much the same way. You see, there is this thing that happens when moisture gets into your shells. They tend not to work.

BTW, I am saving up for an 1842 12 pound mountain howitzer of my very own. Cannon-shooting is actually a sport, and a national championship just outside of Winchester, Virginia every year.

ketchupnmustard · 05-06-2008, 10:34 AM

Originally Posted by Phaedrus

Just read the article.

Complete b.s. in nearly every detail. 8" mortars were deployed on rafts in Petersburg, but were not designed to be used against shipping. Don't know where they got the "waterproof" thing. All shell is sealed against the elements, pretty much the same way. You see, there is this thing that happens when moisture gets into your shells. They tend not to work.

BTW, I am saving up for an 1842 12 pound mountain howitzer of my very own. Cannon-shooting is actually a sport, and a national championship just outside of Winchester, Virginia every year.

Kind of makes my PVC potato cannon seem lame in comparison.