Confederate Canister Ball from Augusta Arsenal, Georgia

This is another piece being offered, it is a Confederate 1 ½” iron ball from a canister or grapeshot shell. It was recovered years ago with several others along the Savannah River next to the Augusta Arsenal in Georgia.

In January 1861, U.S. Troops surrendered the Arsenal to the State of Georgia, soon to be part of the Confederacy. That year Confederates constructed a large shop building near the eastern wall to house several functions: Part was a hospital part was a storehouse, and the remainder contained a blacksmith shop, tin shop and the harness and equipment department for the field artillery.

A canister round was a thin-walled metal cylinder packed with musket balls, or large lead or iron balls, and sawdust. Depending on bore diameter, typical Civil War canister shot was as small as .65 inch and as large as 2 inches. This ball is in nice condition with no chipping or flaking and a light coat of varnish was applied for preservation. It comes in the acrylic display case pictured.