PUBLISHED – CS 12-pounder side-loader shell fragment, from Wheatfield, Gettysburg, in Artillery Book

This is another rare piece being offered; it is an artillery shell fragment from Gettysburg. It is the top section of a Confederate 12-pounder, case-shot, side-loader shell. This piece is the top portion of the shell and measures approximately 3 ½” x 2 ¼”x 1 ¼”. These shells had two openings – one for the fuse adapter and one for the lead plug, this one showing both threaded openings (see pictures of a full shell). I used this piece in my book "Civil War Artillery - A Pictorial Introduction" (see pictures).

This item was recovered at the famous “Wheatfield” in Gettysburg. It was once part of the John P. Geiselman collection, a collection that was on display for many years at the Geiselman Country Store Museum on Barlow - Two Taverns Road (see pictures).

The area known as the Wheatfield had three geographic features, all owned by the John Rose family: the 20-acre field itself, the Rose Woods bordering it on the west, and a modest elevation known as Stony Hill, also to the west. Immediately to the southeast was Houck's Ridge and to the south Devil's Den. The fighting here on July 2nd, consisting of numerous confusing attacks and counterattacks over two hours by eleven brigades, earned the field the nickname "Bloody Wheatfield”.

Geiselman’s collection was the last major grouping of Gettysburg artifacts assembled and documented by a local resident. (I also discuss him and his collection in my book "Battle of Gettysburg - The Relics, Artifacts & Souvenirs"). The shell itself is rare by itself, and coming from the Wheatfield with great provenance, makes it very desirable.  I will include the string tag from when it was previously sold, along with a Certificate of Authenticity.