This non-excavated
specimen is the standard-style canister that both the Federal and Confederate forces used
in the 12-pounder (4.62-inch caliber) smoothbore cannon. Canister was designed to be fired
at close range with a resulting devastating effect on the enemy. A 12-pounder field gun
with a powder charge of 2.0 pounds, fired a 12-pounder canister with an initial muzzle
velocity of 1,262 feet per second. The iron canister balls ranged from
1.46-1.49 inches in diameter and weighed approximately .43 pounds each.
A complete non-excavated canister would weight 14 pounds. Click here for a
reconstructed 12-pounder canister.
