Confederate Archer Shell from Port Hudson (SOLD,JS)

This is another nice piece being offered, it is a Confederate Archer shell. The rifled projectile was Confederate manufactured following the general designs of Junius Archer. A lead band sabot was cast onto the projectile secured by concentric grooves cast into the base of the shell. This pattern has two deep angled grooves and one narrow groove, sabot extended to bottom groove leaving significant knob on the base.

The fuze employed was a wood time fuze with the fuze hole being smooth and tapered. The simple to make fuze could easily be hammered into place. Projectile has a diameter of 2.94in., length 6.0in. and weighs 5.5lb., no sabot.

This shell was recovered years ago at Port Hudson. The Siege of Port Hudson, Louisiana (May 22 – July 9, 1863), was the final engagement in the Union campaign to recapture the Mississippi in the Civil War. While Union General Ulysses Grant was besieging Vicksburg upriver, General Nathaniel Banks was ordered to capture the Confederate stronghold of Port Hudson, in order to go to Grant's aid.

When his assault failed, Banks settled into a 48-day siege, the longest in US military history. A second attack also failed, and it was only after the fall of Vicksburg that the Confederate commander, General Franklin Gardner surrendered the port. The Union gained control of the river and navigation from the Gulf of Mexico through the Deep South and to the river's upper reaches.

This shell is in beautiful condition. It has been lightly coated at one time for preservation. I have an example of this shell in my book "Civil War Artillery - A Pictorial Introduction" (see pictures). It is very smooth with no chipping or flaking, it would be difficult to upgrade this one.