Confederate

Spherical

 

DIAMETER: 4.50 inches
GUN: 12-pounder smoothbore, 4.62-inch caliber
LENGTH: -
WEIGHT: 9 pounds 10 ounces
CONSTRUCTION: Case shot
SABOT: Wooden sabot (missing)
FUZING: Copper Bormann replacement fuze plug, paper time fuze

 12-pounder CS Case Shot Iron Side-loader
This smoothbore projectile has a Bormann replacement fuze plug and an iron side-loader plug. The Confederates discontinued the use of the Bormann fuze by 1863 and replaced it with an oversized copper fuze plug which screwed into the existing underplug threads. In an attempt to conserve lead, iron was used in the manufacture of the side-loading plug. The Bormann replacement fuze plug is also found in a 6-pounder (3.67-inch caliber) and 24-pounder (5.82-inch caliber).

For information on how the shell was filled read the excerpt from the book:

THE HAND-BOOK OF ARTILLERY,
FOR THE SERVICE OF THE UNITED STATES,
(ARMY AND MILITIA.)
WITH THE
MANUAL OF HEAVY ARTILLERY, INCLUDING
THAT OF THE NEW IRON CARRIAGE.

BY
JOSEPH ROBERTS,
MAJOR 4TH REGT. ART., U. S. A., AND COLONEL 3D PENN. ART.

FIFTH EDITION,
REVISED AND GREATLY ENLARGED.

NEW YORK:
D. VAN NOSTRAND, 192 BROADWAY.
1863
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49. Describe the process of loading spherical case shot.

The shot having been cleaned, the balls are put in. A stick with a less diameter than the fuze hole, and having a groove on each side of it, is inserted and pushed to the bottom of the chamber by working the balls aside. The shot is then placed in a sand-bath or oven, and brought to a proper temperature to receive the sulphur, which in a melted state is poured in to fill up the interstices between the balls; the shot is allowed to cool, and the sulphur to harden, when the stick is withdrawn, and the sulphur adhering to the sides of the eye and the surface of the shot is removed. If a fuze­-plug and paper-fuze arc to be used, the charge is poured in, and the plug inserted exactly as in ease of a shell; but, if the Bormann fuze is to be used the charge is inserted and the stopper and fuze screwed into their places, care being taken before placing the fuze in position to puncture the covering of the magazine, so that the fire can communicate with the charge.

Spherical-case are now usually loaded by put­ting in the bullets and pouring melted sulphur or rosin in until the case is full. After the sulphur has cooled, the space for the powder is bored out by a cutter, which removes both the sulphur and portions of the bullets from the space. This is a quicker method, and gives a more compact projectile.

50. What advantages does this mode of loading possess over the old one?

In the old mode there was a liability to accidents, and, if the powder remained in for any length of time before being used, it was ground up and became impaired. By the new mode the powder can be placed in the small chamber, and allowed to remain without fear of damage or danger, and be ready for use when required. Being, besides, in a compact mass, instead of scattered among the bullets, its power is much greater, and it acts more effectively in throwing the bullets outward from the centre.