What is this? Needing Help Identifying This Possible Projectile

Tom Hughes

Sergeant Major
Joined
May 27, 2019
Location
Mississippi
First of all, I don't know if this is a civil war projectile. But, after talking with @alan polk, there was a 3 pounder Mountain Howitzer at the battle of Jackson, MS in 1863. This piece was found in Jackson. If it is a projectile from such a gun, it is a solid shot bolt.
Can anyone help me in identifying this piece? Thanks for any insight.
Here are several pictures from different angles:

shell0.jpg


shell1.jpg


shell2.jpg


shell3.jpg


shell4.jpg
 
I must admit that it is a cute little bugger and it looks like a projectile but the subject of a 3 pound Mountain Howitzer has come up before about one that is in a museum in Bardstown, Kentucky and to be honest, I've never seen one.
 
I must admit that it is a cute little bugger and it looks like a projectile but the subject of a 3 pound Mountain Howitzer has come up before about one that is in a museum in Bardstown, Kentucky and to be honest, I've never seen one.
Thanks @redbob. Do you know what the diameter of a 3 pounder Mountain Howitzer would be? Mine appears to be just under 2 inches.
 
In the thread I mentioned, someone stated the bore would be 2.85 - 2.9 inches which I find rather large and yours would be closer
 
If a Hughes, which were made by Street & Hungerford of Memphis, you would think they made the ammo as well as they made a LOT of CS arty. I just went thru all 389 pages of the CS ordnance records and there is no listing for the guns or ammo.
 
Jackson, MS also had an Arsenal which produced shells - or at least had the capacity, I think. I suppose it’s possible it could have been made there.
 
If a Hughes, which were made by Street & Hungerford of Memphis, you would think they made the ammo as well as they made a LOT of CS arty. I just went thru all 389 pages of the CS ordnance records and there is no listing for the guns or ammo.
There HAS to be a record of what the rifled Hughes shells looked like. Maybe it’s THAT rare😃😃
The bottom of the shell looks to have supported a sabot, probably brass
 
I bet all of the ammo for the Hughes guns were solid shots due to the size.
Do you all think the Archives in Jackson would have more details about the Hughes gun?
 
I bet all of the ammo for the Hughes guns were solid shots due to the size.
Do you all think the Archives in Jackson would have more details about the Hughes gun?
This letter is located in the John J. Pettus Correspondence at the Mississippi Department of Archives & History:

Memphis, Tenn., Feb. 5/62

Gov. Pettus

Sir on my return from New Madrid to this city after delivering to Gen. Thompson the last four of his ten guns I find here Col. Price of Missouri, Chief of Ordnance for the state who is now purchasing arms, and as Gen. Thompson is absent (at Richmond) and I have no gun for exhibition or inspection of Col. Price I ask of you the favour to forward to me what you regard as a true statement of the utility of my gun, especially for Missouri warfare, as a letter from you will do much to secure to me a contract, and at the same time greatly add to the necessities of the state you have seen as much and know as much about the gun as any of the men having seen it tried and heard others talk who have seen it used if you can lend your influence in my favour I will be under many obligations for the same hoping to hear from you by return mail I await your most obedt. Servt.,


D. W. Hughes
 
First of all, I don't know if this is a civil war projectile. But, after talking with @alan polk, there was a 3 pounder Mountain Howitzer at the battle of Jackson, MS in 1863. This piece was found in Jackson. If it is a projectile from such a gun, it is a solid shot bolt.
Can anyone help me in identifying this piece? Thanks for any insight.
Here are several pictures from different angles:

View attachment 406778

View attachment 406779

View attachment 406780

View attachment 406781

View attachment 406782
Looks like a window weight.
 
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