Buying Federal 10lb. Parrott Base and Canister - Cold Harbor - Virginia

The base to a Federal 10lb Parrott artillery shell and two 1 1/8” canister balls excavated on the Cold Harbor Battlefield near Richmond, Virginia. This type shell was for use with the 3” Parrott or the 3” Ordnance Rifle. Originally known as the "Griffen Gun," after its designer, John Griffen. The Model 1861 3” Ordnance Rifle was copied by Confederate Armories. The design of this rifle, soon a favorite with artillerists in both armies, is recognized by the complete absence of any discontinuities in the surface of the gun. A canister round was a thin-walled metal cylinder packed with musket balls or large lead or iron balls, and sawdust. Depending on bore diameter, typical Civil War canister shot was as small as .65 inch and as large as 2 inches. Some canister rounds have been found that were packed with nails, pieces of hinges, and other scrap metal.

The Battle of Cold Harbor was fought near Mechanicsville, Virginia, from May 31 to June 12, 1864, with the most significant fighting occurring on June 3. It was one of the final battles of Union Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's Overland Campaign. On June 2, the remainder of both armies arrived and the Confederates built an elaborate series of fortifications 7 miles long. At dawn on June 3, three Union corps attacked the Confederate works on the southern end of the line and were easily repulsed with heavy casualties. Attempts to assault the northern end of the line and to resume the assaults on the southern were unsuccessful.

The stand measures 4” x 8” in size and is included. The iron fragments have been treated and sealed. The base measures 3” and the canister balls buying are 1 1/8”.

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