Original Item: Only One Available. This is a lovely U.S. Civil War Confederate sold shot iron cannonball, measuring approximately 5.7" in diameter. This would indicate that it is a 24lb. size, for the Confederate 24-pounder smoothbore, 5.82-inch caliber cannon. Union forces did not use any solid shot in their 24-pounder cannons, just shells and case shot, and with the “G” stamped into it, this is of Confederate origin.

Like many of the civil war artifacts available today, it was dug up from a battlefield area, more than a century after the war ended. This particular example was excavated in the area of the Selma Arsenal in Alabama.

The cannonball is somewhat rusted, with the usual scaling and pitting scars seen on excavated ordnance. This has resulted in it being slightly larger than spec, as the rust scaling expands in size compared to the cast iron it is made of. It's definitely a nice looking example, with a great patina!

A great piece of U.S. Civil War militaria, ready to display!

Specifications:
DIAMETER: 5.63 inches
GUN: 24-pounder smoothbore, 5.82-inch caliber
WEIGHT: 24 pounds
CONSTRUCTION: Solid shot
SABOT: Wooden cup (missing)
FUZING: None

Selma, Alabama in the American Civil War
Selma, Alabama, during the American Civil War was one of the South's main military manufacturing centers, producing tons of supplies and munitions, and turning out Confederate warships. The Selma Ordnance and Naval Foundry complex included a naval foundry, shipyard, army arsenal, and gunpowder works. Following the Battle of Selma, Union Maj. Gen. James H. Wilson's troops destroyed Selma's army arsenal and factories, as well as much of the city.

Because of its central location, production facilities, and rail connections, the advantages of Selma as a site for production of cartridges, saltpeter, powder, shot and shell, rifles, cannon and steam rams soon became apparent to the Confederacy. By 1863, most materiel was manufactured in Selma, employing at least ten thousand people. Selma, along with the Tredegar Iron Works in Richmond, was one of two sites producing the Brooke rifle, a rifled naval and coast defense cannon designed by John Mercer Brooke. The hulls for several Confederate ironclads, including the CSS Huntsville, CSS Phoenix, CSS Tennessee, and CSS Tuscaloosa were laid at the Confederate Navy Yard there. CSS Nashville was also partially outfitted in Selma.