Civil War-era cannonball found in backyard of Virginia home: 'Could still be a live ordnance'

[Reptile]

Civil War-era cannonball found in backyard of Virginia home: 'Could still be a live ordnance'

The City of Staunton Fire and Rescue received an interesting call from a Virginia residence after a Civil War-era projectile was found buried in the home's yard.

www.foxnews.com

I thought they were just made of solid iron.
These are dangerous!!!

A man was killed digging them up...

Civil War cannonball kills collector

By STEVE SZKOTAK Associated Press Writer CHESTER, Va. (AP) -- Like many boys in the South, Sam White got hooked on the Civil War early, digging up rusting bullets and military buttons in the battle-scarred earth of his hometown. As an adult, he crisscrossed the Virginia countryside in...

www.northeastshooters.com

 

[BigTimber]

https://www.warhistoryonline.com/news/civil-war-2.html

 

[Toast]

I thought they were just made of solid iron.

They were fitted with adjustable fuses to allow them to be timed to explode in the air over enemy troops. There were some interesting systems.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixX2rzH-0Sk

 

[MisterHappy]

 

[Dadstoys]

Interesting tid bit .
The Richmond armory that had been supplying Confederate artillery fuses blew up just prior to the battle of Gettysburg .
The contractor that picked up the slack was making fuses with a slower burn rate so that during the battle, the Confederate artillery was overshooting the Union line before the shells exploded .

 

[1sern]

I thought they were just made of solid iron.
These are dangerous!!!

There's an old song you might have heard, it goes on about "bombs bursting in air" or something like that

 

[BigTimber]

View attachment 874214

That movie scarred me as a kid lol

 

[Picton]

I thought they were just made of solid iron.

Some are, some aren't.

There were many, many different kinds of ammo developed for artillery pieces over the centuries.

 

[1sern]

Some are, some aren't.

There were many, many different kinds of ammo developed for artillery pieces over the centuries.

Then there's canister

 

[Dennis in MA]

Civil War-era cannonball found in backyard of Virginia home: 'Could still be a live ordnance'

The City of Staunton Fire and Rescue received an interesting call from a Virginia residence after a Civil War-era projectile was found buried in the home's yard.

www.foxnews.com

I thought they were just made of solid iron.
These are dangerous!!!

A man was killed digging them up...

Civil War cannonball kills collector

By STEVE SZKOTAK Associated Press Writer CHESTER, Va. (AP) -- Like many boys in the South, Sam White got hooked on the Civil War early, digging up rusting bullets and military buttons in the battle-scarred earth of his hometown. As an adult, he crisscrossed the Virginia countryside in...

www.northeastshooters.com

Biemeck and Peter George, co-author of a book on Civil War ordnance, believe White was using either a drill or a grinder attached to a drill to remove grit from the cannonball, causing a shower of sparks.

I guess the guy wasn't as expert as he said. Basically, if you dig them up, put them on a shelf you're probably fine. But cover them with a bunch of sparks, there might be trouble.