Section of a Confederate Read Shell, recovered at Reynold’s Woods, Gettysburg

This is another nice piece coming out of the large Gettysburg collection I acquired.  It is a section of a Confederate 3-inch Read shell measuring 3 1/2” x 2 ½”.   These shells were one of the earliest models of Virginia-made bourreleted Reads produced for CS 3” Ordnance Rifles. The raised top band and fuse threads are still visible on this fragment (see complete example).

It was recovered many years ago by Iva Rosensteel at Reynold’s Woods of the 1st Days Battle at Gettysburg. It was found near Willoughby Run and the 24^th Michigan monument (see map). The first day’s battle proceeded in three phases as combatants continued to arrive at the battlefield. In the morning, two brigades of Confederate General Henry Heth's division were delayed by dismounted Union cavalrymen under Brigadier General John Buford.

As infantry reinforcements arrived under General John F. Reynolds Union I Corps, the Confederate assaults down the Chambersburg Pike were repulsed, although General Reynolds was killed. Heavy fighting in Herbst's Woods (near the Lutheran Theological Seminary) and on Oak Ridge finally caused the Union line to collapse. Some of the Federals conducted a fighting withdrawal through the town, suffering heavy casualties and losing many prisoners; others simply retreated.

At the Battle of Gettysburg, Union forces fired over 33,000 artillery rounds, while Confederate forces fired about 22,000, totaling around 55,000 artillery shells, with the vast majority concentrated in the immense bombardment before Pickett's Charge on July 3rd. The massive Gettysburg Rosensteel collection went on to be part of the Gettysburg National Park Museum.

In my books “Civil War Artillery – A Pictorial Introduction” and “Battle of Gettysburg – The Relics, Artifacts & Souvenirs”, I show similar pieces that were recovered at Gettysburg. A Certificate of Authenticity will be provided with this relic. This is an interesting artifact and would go great in any Gettysburg or Civil War collection.