Remains of Revolutionary War Canister shell with balls, from Ft. Ticonderoga

This is another unique item out of a 60-year collection of Revolutionary War, French & Indian War, and War of 1812 artillery. It is the end of a Revolutionary War Tin Canister Round with three 16mm canister balls present. The round plate has an approximate diameter of  3” diameter.

When this piece was recovered there was one ball still attached and the other two were next to it and have now been glued back in place. This would have been fired from a 4-pounder cannon (see pictures). It was found many years ago at Ft. Ticonderoga, NY (see pictures).  

Benedict Arnold joined Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys of Vermont in a dawn attack on the fort, surprising and capturing the sleeping British garrison. Although it was a small-scale conflict, the Battle of Fort Ticonderoga was the first American victory of the Revolutionary War and would give the Continental Army much-needed artillery to be used in future battles.

There is an example of one of these shells in the Ft. Ticonderoga Museum (see pictures). 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.

It definitely merits a place in an advanced collection or museum. Surviving canister rounds are extremely rare, very few have been recovered. It comes in the acrylic display case pictured.  As with all the pieces in this esteemed collection, a Certificate of Authenticity will be included.