Civil War Artillery 6-pounder cannonball, recovered at Camp Bartow, WV

Being offered is a Civil War artillery solid-shot cannonball. It has a diameter of 3 ½” and weighs 5-pounds, 13-ounces. This was recovered years ago from one of the first battles of the Civil War, Battle of Camp Barlow.

The core section of Camp Bartow, a fortified encampment with still-visible earthworks was built by 1,800 Confederate soldiers from Georgia, Arkansas and Virginia, who occupied the site for several months during the opening year of the Civil War. It was used to fend off an attack by a much larger Union force during the Oct. 3, 1861, Battle of Greenbrier River.

In October 1861 it was manned by about 1,800 Virginia, Georgia, and Arkansas troops, mostly infantry, but with some artillery and cavalry. They were attacked on October 3 by a Union force of some 5,000 men, consisting of infantry regiments from Ohio and Indiana, artillery from the U.S. Regulars, Michigan and loyal Virginia, with some Ohio, Pennsylvania and Indiana cavalry. The battle lasted more than five hours before the Union troops withdrew. It resulted in light casualties: 8 killed and 35 wounded Federal troops and 6 killed, 33 wounded and 13 missing Confederates.

In my book “Civil War Artillery – A Pictorial Introduction” I discuss these cannonballs in further detail (see pictures). Six-pounder cannons were used quite a bit during the beginning of the war, but were gradually phased out as the war progressed, especially with Union forces. This ball is in very nice condition, no chipping or flaking, typical of an early recovery.