Civil War Union 10-pounder Parrott Shell (SOLD)

This is another nice item being offered, it is a dug U.S. Parrott shell. The iron sabot at the bottom of the shell is still intact. The zinc fuse plug has turned white and is somewhat deteriorated. This shell was recovered years ago from the Petersburg, Virginia Battlefield – it is marked as such in old white paint.

Marching from Cold Harbor, Meade's Army of the Potomac crossed the James River on transports and a 2,200-foot long pontoon bridge at Windmill Point. General Butler with the XVIII Corps crossed the Appomattox River and attacked the Petersburg defenses on June 15, 1864. The 5,400 defenders of Petersburg under command of General P.G.T. Beauregard were driven from their first line of entrenchments back to Harrison Creek. On June 16, the II Corps captured another section of the Confederate line and gained more ground.

Beauregard brought in troops from Bermuda Hundred to defend the city and Lee rushed reinforcements to Petersburg from the Army of Northern Virginia. Three Union Corps attacked on June 18 but were repulsed with heavy casualties. By now the Confederate works were heavily manned and the greatest opportunity to capture Petersburg without a siege was lost. The long siege of Petersburg began.

This shell is in solid condition, no chipping or flaking, and a light coat of varnish was applied for preservation. I discuss these shells further in my book “Civil War Artillery – A Pictorial Introduction”. This would make a nice addition to any Civil War collection.