Federal

Sawyer

 

DIAMETER:  3.60 inches
GUN:  Sawyer rifle, 3.67-inch caliber
LENGTH:  5 13/16 inches
WEIGHT:  4 pounds 4 ounces (filler balls missing)
CONSTRUCTION:  Canister
SABOT:  None
FUZING:  None

 3.67-inch Sawyer Accelerating Canister
This pictured example is correctly referred to as Sawyer's accelerating canister. On November 16, 1861, 336 of these projectiles were delivered by Elmer Townsend & Company to the Federal Ordnance department. Located in the National Archives is a letter that was written to General A.B. Dyer, which stated that this is a "...six pounder accelerating canister" and had a "...wooden plug closing the mouth of the canister." The base view illustrates the distinguishing characteristic of this canister. The hole in the base contained a powder train that ignited an explosive charge between the balls and the canister base. The charge ignited after leaving the gun, thus extending the canister's range. The ridged-cylinder Sawyer canisters also acted as projectiles after the canister balls were dispersed. This was an added improvement, since the standard tin-cylinder canister shredded upon firing.