Large Revolutionary War Cannonball recovered many years ago at Kingston, New York

This is another nice early piece coming out of a 60-year collection of French & Indian War/Revolutionary War artillery. Being offered is a Revolution War 24-pounder cannonball. It has a diameter of 5 ¼” and weighs 23 pounds, 12 ounces. It has a pronounced sprue that was filed down. The 24-pounder cannons were used by both sides during the Revolutionary War (see pictures).This ball was recovered many years ago from Kingston, NY (see pictures).

In October 1777, Kingston was targeted for retaliation by the British following the Continental Army's first major victory at the Battle of Saratoga. Infuriated, British soldiers from captured New York City, sailed up the Hudson River to take retaliation against the biggest colonial target in the area – Kingston, the new capital of New York State. Landing at Kingston Point and shelling the town, the red coats marched along the Rondout Creek and up to the Stockade area (Uptown Kingston area), burning houses along the way. A small naval skirmish also took place along the Rondout Creek.

Although most of the city's men, along with their weapons, were away fighting the British elsewhere, some brave locals fought the British. Most of the city, however, was abandoned ahead of the Redcoats approach, knowing their limited chances against the invading army. After only a few hours of work, the British burned down over 300 buildings and left Kingston in ruins. However, the resilient and brave Kingston residents returned, and in a sign of their determination and resilience, quickly rebuilt the city.

The ball remains in very nice condition, having a mostly smooth surface, typical of an early recovery. This collection began in the late 1950s and was created by private acquisitions, closed museums, and from lake divers. The collector meticulously displayed and cataloged every piece along with its provenance. His markings were crude at the time, but now they have proved to be very important. Many of the pieces went through electrolysis to remove crusted rust.

This is the first time this cannonball has been on the open market, and it is truly a great piece of early American History. It definitely merits a place in an advanced collection or museum. As with all the pieces in this esteemed collection, a Certificate of Authenticity will be included. As with all items on the website, a very friendly layaway is available.