Civil War Bullets

EARLY GETYSBURG DISPLAY BY JOSHUA BANE

The Civil War bullet caused tremendous casualties and incredible suffering to many brave soldiers. Wartime field hospitals reports indicated that as much as ninety percent of battle wounds were caused by small arms projectiles. For that reason, it is the ultimate relic and representation of the soldiers who fought in the war that determined America's national character. Collecting of Civil War bullets is becoming more popular each year. It's a hobby that can be started by anyone with a little knowledge. The collection can also be very involved and there are some rare bullets that cost even more than Confederate buttons.

COLLIDED BULLETS

Very rare and remarkable symbol of the savagry of this war. A three ringer fired by a union soldier collided mid-air with a confederate buck and ball. No other relic that I have and very few that I have seen symbolizes the intensity of the fighting more than this. Written accounts from soldiers who experienced the worst of the fighting often used the phrase "the air was filled with lead". The verbal on this was that it is a pickup from the Shiloh battlefield but whatever battle this came from it must have been a tough one to survive.

Reference: (Civil War Relics of the Western Campaigns" by Charles S. Harris, page 37, 107)

36 CALIBER COLT PISTOL BULLET

Here is a sample you seldom see. This is a .36 Colt pistol bullet with the original sheep skin cartridge. The sheep skin has been coated for preservation and is stable.

UNOPENED 58 CALIBER PAPER CARTRIDGE

An original, unopened Federal .58 caliber paper wrapped cartridge in mint condition. This artifact is considered the most common type of ammunition used with muzzle loaders during the Civil War. The .58 caliber minie ball and its accompanying powder charge are still encased within the original beige colored paper wrap. To load his musket, the soldier tore (or bit) off one end of the paper and poured the powder down the muzzle of the barrel. Muzzle loaders used bullets that were slightly smaller than the bore diameter of the barrel in order for the weapon to be loaded properly with the common .58 caliber minie ball measuring a diameter of .574 inches. This specimen of standard rifled musket ammunition is a superb original example of a Civil War Federal infantryman's paper cartridge,

(Reference: " Arms and Equipment of the Union" by Time-Life Books, page 30, 31; 'Warman's Civil War Weapons" by Graham Smith, page 124)

UNOPENED .69 CALIBER "BUCK & BALL" PAPER CARTRIDGE

An original, unopened Federal .69 caliber paper wrapped ' Buck & Ball' cartridge in excellent condition.This artifact is a most common type of ammunition used with smoothbore muzzleloaders during the Civil War. The .69 caliber round ball with the accompanying powder charge was mated with three .22 caliber 'buckshot'; hence the name 'buck & ball'. When the round was fired, the buckshot would spread out from the .69 lead round ball and increase the chances of hitting the intended target. "Buck & Ball' was very effective at close range but no good at long range. In this example the .69 caliber ball and buckshot are still encased within the original beige colored paper wrap. Some soiling to the exterior paper surface. To load his musket, the soldier tore (or bit) off one end of the paper and poured the powder down the muzzle of the barrel. This standard 'buck & ball' specimen for a smoothbore musket is in mint condition and is a superb original example of a Civil War Federal infantryman's paper cartridge.

(Reference: " Arms and Equipment of the Confederacy" by Time-Life Books, page 32; " Arms and Equipment of the Union" by Time-Life Books, page 33; 'Warman's Civil War Weapons" by Graham Smith, page 124)

CONFEDERATE 58 CALIBER THREE RINGER

ASSORTMENT OF BULLETS

From left to right. CS Gardner, Williams Cleaner, Enfield .577, CS nose cast Selma Arsenal, Spencer carbine, U.S. 69 Caliber

69 CALIBER BUCK AND BALL

Confederate 69 caliber buck and ball fused together

FUSE AND BULLETS FROM COLD HARBOUR BATTLEFIELD

Confederate brass fuse adaptor found near the Battle of Cold Harbor in Hanover County Virginia. Local digger found this fuse while hunting on private property with permission. This is an excellent Confederate projectile fuse of the type that is used in the tall Confederate projectiles such as the Read and the Mullane. It is made of copper and it has a nice green patina. It is not bent and there are no "hits" on it. The threads are perfect and it could be screwed into a projectile. A map sowing the location of the find was included with the purchase. The bullets were dug at Cold Harbor too and also came with a map showing the location of the find.

(Reference; "Civil War Artifacts A Guide to The Historian" by Howard Crouch, page 117; "Artillery Fuses of the Civil War by Charles H. Jones, page 45")

10 CS BULB NOSE AND SIDE CAST BULLETS

Above is a great assortment of lead including CS and US. These were purchased from the late Stan Hughes who has left a huge hole in the collecting community with his passing. All these were dug in the Corinth area.

44 CALIBER COLT BULLETS

There are no more interesting, meaningful and important relics of the Civil War than lead bullets. The dug, dropped, fired and pulled pieces of lead truly tell the story of the battles. Each one has a story to tell. Each story lost to history but important non the less.

10 CARVED AND WHITTLED BULLETS

Bullets that have been carved or whittled add a whole new level of fascination and intrigue to bullet collecting. These examples graphically reflect how soldiers entertained themselves during the endless hours they sat in camp with little to do but reflect on their folks at home and wait for their next marching orders.

Reference: :"The Illustrated History of American Civil War Relics" by Stephen W. Sylvia & J. O'Donnell, page 285; "Excavated Artifacts from Battlefields and Campsites of the Civil War 1861-1865" by Stanley S. Phillips, page 192)

14 PULLED BULLETS

Pulled bullets are fascinating in the fact that we know the final seconds of these artifacts. There was an attempt to fire a weapon and the bullet remained lodged in the barrel. More than likely the soldier, in a panic and under pressure, had to pull this bullet from the barrel, reload and pray that this time the musket would discharge correctly.