Confederate Artillery Read Shell base from Cemetery Ridge, Gettysburg – ex-Rosensteel museum collection (ON HOLD,MW)

This is another nice piece coming out of the large Gettysburg collection I acquired.  It is the base to a Confederate 3-inch Read shell. It has a diameter of 2 7/8” and weighs 1-pound, 3-ounces. . It has the iron sabot and dimple at the bottom, typical of the Confederate Read shells.

This piece was recovered by Iva Rosensteel on Cemetery Ridge, between the Sedgewick monument and the New Jersey monument (see map).  Iva was the sister of George Rosensteel, who was the founder of the Gettysburg National Museum and the famous Electric Map. The Rosensteels were, of course, the most famous artifact collecting family in Gettysburg and the bulk of the relics on display at today's Gettysburg National Park Visitor Center come from the Rosensteels.

Cemetery Ridge figured prominently in the Battle of Gettysburg, July 1 to July 3, 1863.  It formed a primary defensive position for the Union Army during the battle, roughly the center of what is popularly known as the "fish-hook" line. The Confederates launched attacks on the Union positions on the second and third days of the battle but were driven back both times.

In my book “Civil War Artillery – A Pictorial Introduction”, I show similar pieces that were recovered at Gettysburg (see pictures). A Certificate of Authenticity will be provided with this relic. This is an interesting relic and would go great in any Gettysburg or Civil War collection.