Confederate

Read-Parrott

 

DIAMETER:  2.93 inches
GUN:  3-inch Parrott rifle
LENGTH:  7 5/8 inches
WEIGHT:  8 pounds
CONSTRUCTION:  Shell
SABOT:  Copper ring
FUZING:  Wooden fuze plug, paper time fuze
This style Read-Parrott projectile is often referred to as a Trans-Mississippi Read-Parrott due to the fact that all examples of this pattern have been recovered from Western Theater sites. Three flame grooves are cut out of the thin copper sabot in order to help increase the likelihood of the propellant flame reaching the paper time fuze. Examples of this style are also found in 2.25-inch, 3.3-inch and 3.5-inch calibers.

The following information is from the Official Records:

"CHAP. LX.] CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.--UNION. PAGE 965-102
[Series I. Vol. 48. Part II, Correspondence, Etc. Serial No. 102.]

NEW ORLEANS, LA., June 16, 1865.
Capt. J. W. TODD,
U. S. Ordnance Corps, Chief of Ordnance, Dept. of the Gulf:

CAPT.: In obedience to order received from ordnance office,
headquarters Department of the Gulf, dated New Orleans, La., May 31,
1865, I have the honor to report that I proceeded to Shreveport, La., and
upon my arrival at that point reported to the commanding officer of that
district (Maj.-Gen. Herron), and was by him furnished such inventories
of ordnance and ordnance stores as had been furnished by the C. S.
authorities (a copy of each hereunto annexed). An acting ordnance
officer had been appointed by the commanding officer of the post,
with instructions to receive the ordnance property as turned over by
the officers of the Confederate States Government. In many of the cases,
however, no inventories were presented, and in fact the property was
left where it was most convenient. This was due to the fact that the
troops revolted, and after having ransacked the public buildings and
taken such stores as they wanted, and destroyed a portion of the
remainder, they disbanded upon the approach of the U. S. forces, taking
with them their arms and accouterments, artillery harness, horse
equipments, &c. The C. S. arsenal at Shreveport is in fine condition. It
contains a fine lot of machinery, machinists' tools, patterns, foundry
implements, &c. This arsenal was turned over by Capt. Whaly, of the
C. S. Ordnance Department, to the U. S. authorities in very good order.
No inventory of the property belonging to the arsenal had been furnished
at the time of my leaving. The employes at the arsenal upon the news
of the surrender plundered the arsenal workshops and store-houses of all
material, tools, horse equipments, artillery harness, small-arms, and
accouterments which they could carry away, taking the teams which
belonged to the arsenal to assist them.

All of the ordnance and ordnance stores and ordnance property, which
was movable and which was liable to damage by neglect, was directed
to be sent to Baton Rouge Arsenal as fast as transportation could be
furnished. I retained, at the suggestion of Maj.-Gen. Herron, for the
armament of a fort, in case it was decided to build one, the following
pieces of artillery with about 200 rounds of assorted ammunition per
piece, viz: one 24-pounder siege gun, on siege carriage; one 24-pounder
boat howitzer, on siege carriage; two light 12-pounder guns, on field
carriages; two 12-pounder field howitzers, on field carriages; two
3.25-inch rifles, on field carriages; one 6-pounder smooth-bore gun, on
field carriage. I also directed that all the carbines, and 250,000 rounds
of rifled musket ammunition, caliber .557, should be retained at that
post. I was informed by the Confederate authorities that at Marshall,
Tex., there was a large powder works and an arsenal of construction.
At this point all the powder required for the Trans-Mississippi
Department was manufactured, also musket caps, small-arm
ammunition, artillery ammunition, fixed, &c. This property was
plundered to a great extent by disorganized commands. The officials of
the city deeming it necessary to protect the property and lives of the
inhabitants, placed a guard upon the workshop, store-houses, magazines,
&c., and so far as I was enabled to learn the property was rigidly cared
for. There was no regular communication between the two points
(Shreveport and Marshall), and it was deemed quite unsafe to go beyond
the lines held by the U. S. forces. I was requested by Maj.-Gen.
Herron to state that it was his intention to forward troops to Marshall,
and would, at the earliest practicable moment, cause

PAGE 966-102 LOUISIANA AND THE TRANS-MISSISSIPPI. [CHAP. LX.
[Series I. Vol. 48. Part II, Correspondence, Etc. Serial No. 102.]

to be collected and forwarded to Shreveport Arsenal the ordnance stores
at Marshall, together with the tools, materials, &c., via Shreveport and
Marshal Railroad, which is understood to be in good condition to within
fifteen miles of Shreveport. The idea of having these stores collected at
Shreveport is an excellent one, and will prevent the loss of time in
shipping when the stage of water in the river will permit. I would
recommend that an ordnance sergeant, or some employe of the ordnance
department who understands the handling of powder and niter, be sent
without delay to assist the acting ordnance officer in his labors in that
portion of the country. Also, that a competent mechanic (a machinist
would be preferable) be sent to Shreveport to superintend the removal
of the machinery, tools, &c.

Respectfully submitted.

J. J. WILLIAMSON,
Capt. and Assistant Chief of Ordnance, Department of the Gulf."