Bormann Fuse Compilation (2011 -2016)

[alan polk]

Below is a compilation of knowledge about the Bormann fuze I gathered from numerous posts made by artillery experts on websites, or from personal emails, and/or conversations conducted with experts—all this conducted nearly 15 years ago, with such data collected between the years 2011-2016

I compiled, and then published, this information on a Civil War ammunition web site a decade ago under the user name "Callicles," with a few updates made there in 2017. Some members here at CWT may have also been members of that site and might recall this research. Anyhow, I now offer it here to CWT members who might be interested in the Bormann fuze.

For each source of information published, I included—parenthetically—the source's name (or user name) and the date it was gathered at the end of each sentence. Most entries are not direct quotations but are based on my notes at that time.

Some of the information collected below also reflects "debates" between these artillery experts and thus offers us a unique behind the scenes look at how facts about the Bormann fuze were being collected, interpreted, and how theories at the time were being developed.

Some of these experts are no longer with us. Yet, many still live through books and other publications they left to us. I hope this represents yet another collection of their thoughts and ideas they left behind.

I want to particularly dedicate this to Peter C. George, who contributed not only to the information here, but to my own knowledge of Civil War artillery.

Mr. George is best known for the seminal work he coauthored with Thomas Dickey, entitled "Field Artillery Projectiles of the American Civil War." This work remains essential to the understanding of Civil War projectiles.

Pete was not only kind to me, but to many others in the projectile community. But more importantly, his gentlemanly and Christian character proved an influence that extended well beyond the study of Civil War artillery. Pete's patience with my abject ignorance was utterly amazing— he was a Christian gentleman of the highest sort.

May he rest in peace.

 

[alan polk]

I. General Discussion

The Bormann fuse was invented by a Belgian army officer and was given his name. (John D. Bartelson, Jr., 7-30-12). It is uncertain when the Bormann fuse was officially adopted by the U.S. Army. It was tested in the summer of 1854 and was probably adopted a year or two later. (Mccaul, 9-24-12).

Being able to prepare a complete projectile in an arsenal was one of the major advantages of the Bormann fuse over the older paper or wooden fuses, an advantage that both the Army and Navy would have utilized. (Mccaul, 9-24-12).

During the first 12 months of the war, the Yankees used only a very few field-caliber round shells with wooden fuze plugs. Those few examples are believed to have been leftovers from manufacturing in the early 1850s, before the U.S. Ordnance Department officially adopted the Bormann fuze. After the first 12 months of the war, virtually 100% of Yankee field-caliber round shells were Bormann-fuzed, except for a few experimental designs such as the Tice and Wright fuzes. This statement, of course, excludes mortar shells. (Pete George, 7-28-12).

As far as is known, all American-made Bormann fuses had right-hand threading. (Pete George, 9-12-12).

Many Southern states ordered ammunition, including cannonballs with Bormann fuses, from Northern suppliers before the war. (Woodenhead, 2-3-15). Virginia purchased the presses, forms, dies, and other equipment necessary for producing the Bormann fuse from the Washington Arsenal in late 1860. (6lbgun, 2-8-15).

Therefore, it is highly likely that the Confederacy used Yankee-made Bormann fuses in addition to its own.

Update: 9-8-17 (by Woodenhead)

Many shops, both North and South, manufactured Bormann fuzes, which explains some of the confusing variations encountered today. Southern craftsmen produced molds and dies based upon ordnance drawings and samples distributed by the Richmond Arsenal. It appears that they prescribed a single wrench slot and a maximum range of 5½ seconds. Otherwise, manufacturers took liberties with smaller details such as the size and shape of the numbers, the thickness of the lips, and the shape of the "pie slice." Similar variations can be seen in artillery projectiles produced at different locations while working from a common set of drawings.

There were few Southern sources for Bormann fuzes during the first six months of 1861. A March 1861 Richmond newspaper claimed that Bormann fuzes were being produced locally by the Virginia Arsenal. At that time, Tredegar, a private company, was widely recognized as the "king" of Southern ordnance. Tredegar received numerous large orders for cannonballs of all calibers from states such as Mississippi, Georgia, North Carolina, and others. Nearly everyone requested the modern Bormann fuze.

These white-metal igniters were not particularly difficult to manufacture, but with its workforce stretched to the limit, Tredegar found it easier to purchase quantities from a New York military supplier, Cooper & Pond. This firm had partnered with the Richmond ironworks in 1860 to sell approximately 10,000 of Virginia's obsolete muskets on the Northern market. Cooper & Pond did not actually manufacture the fuzes but instead subcontracted the work to a local manufacturer. Field reports regarding their performance were highly unfavorable.

About two weeks after the attack on Fort Sumter, Tredegar began producing and marketing its own version of the Bormann fuze. Examples of these, as well as some of the earlier Cooper & Pond Bormann fuzes, can be found in many of the 10-pounder Read-Parrott shells recovered from the 1862 Peninsula Campaign and the Second Manassas Campaign. Only the Confederates produced these shells. Parrott never installed a Bormann fuze, with a maximum range of approximately one mile, in any of his rifle shells capable of traveling more than two miles. (Woodenhead, 9-9-17).

 

[alan polk]

Excerpt from the U.S. Army Ordnance Manual of 1862

As a follow-on to my [John D. Bartelson] last post on this thread, I have located a description of how the Bormann fuse is charged with powder after being cast from lead and tin, as follows:

"MATERIALS—Mealed powder, musket powder, rifle powder, disks of tin.

UTENSILS—A strong screw-press, annular charger the size of the ring, annular drift, flat drift, round drift.

Take the mould in which the fuze was cast; place the fuze in the parts of the mould containing the screw and the upper or graduated side, and secure the mould by a ring driven on it.

Draw up the piston, and fill the charger by pressing it into the mealed powder contained in a shallow pan. Place the charger over the groove, and force down the piston, transferring the powder into the fuze. Insert the button in the magazine and the pin in the priming-hole, to preserve their shapes; place the ring on the powder, and with the annular drift force it down by means of a strong screw-press, bringing the ring flush with the surface of the fuze; rivet the ring in its place with another drift. Withdraw the button and pin; charge the priming-hole with rifle powder and fill the magazine with musket powder; cover the magazine with a disk of tin, and rivet it in place by means of first a flat drift and then a round one, which turns down a part of the metal of the fuze over the disk.

Remove the fuze from the mould, place it in a screw-chuck made to fit it, and turn off in a lathe the lower surface smooth and to the proper thickness. The powder of the fuze is now perfectly sealed up from the air. The fuze may be varnished."

This is the sequence of events involved in charging the fuse and sealing it so that it may be passed on for shell filling and final assembly, as covered in my previous posts. Therefore, the tin disk is crimped into place, not soldered, as stated in Gibbons. (Quoted by John D. Bartelson, Jr., 9-11-12).

 

[alan polk]

Bormann Fuse Powders

Mealed powder is used in the timing mixture and is pressed into the horseshoe-shaped cavity to provide accurate timing of the fuse. Since the Bormann burns counterclockwise, it reaches the end of its selected burn time at zero (0). At this point, the quick action of rifle powder is needed to transfer the burn to the more powerful musket powder in the magazine.

The magazine explodes and shoots flame down through the rifle powder placed in the central hole of the leather washer, through the support plug, and into the shell's explosive chamber. This provides enough force to break the case into an undetermined number of fragments, which continue traveling generally in the direction of the projectile's trajectory.

Too much info.

Regards,

John

(John D. Bartelson, Jr., 4-11-16)

The upper surface of this fuse is graduated into seconds and fourths of seconds, and it is only necessary to lay bare the composition contained in the fuse (using a cutting tool) to prepare the projectile for instant use—a clear advantage over ordinary fuses. (Mccaul, 9-24-12).

If the gunner perforates the outer ring at the 4-second mark and fires the cannon, the propellant flame ignites the mealed powder train at that point. It then burns in both directions, traveling one second to the 5-second mark, where it stops in that direction, while continuing four seconds in the opposite direction until it reaches and ignites the rifle powder. The rifle powder burns rapidly to the musket-powder magazine, which explodes, blowing away the tin disk and igniting the rifle powder in the support disk and, ultimately, the shell's black-powder main charge. (John D. Bartelson, Jr., 9-13-12).

A. Problems with CSA Bormann Fuses

The South experienced severe problems with the Bormann fuse. It appears that only the Confederacy encountered these significant difficulties. (John D. Bartelson, Jr., 9-24-12).

One of the first problems noted by the South involved the Yankee-made Bormann fuses they had purchased. Mysteriously, these fuses had a "tendency to burn through the top." (Woodenhead, 2-6-15).

To address this issue, the South manufactured its own Bormann fuses with thicker tops. (Woodenhead, 2-6-15). This explanation was questioned by other forum members, who offered an alternative theory. The sealing plug or disk was sometimes made of iron rather than tin. If made of iron, it would have needed to be perforated or punched prior to assembly. If the disk was not tin, or if an iron disk was left unpunched, the top of the fuse could blow out. (John D. Bartelson, Jr., 2-12-15; 6lbgun, 2-12-15).

A more serious issue was premature detonation. One interim remedy was to add a rebate beneath the fuse to accommodate a gasket. As far as is known, U.S. shells did not incorporate these rebates. (emike123, 7-26-12).

The South suspected that premature detonations might be caused by "firing shock," which could split a seam inside the fuze and allow flame from the powder train to enter the shell's bursting cavity prematurely. Consequently, Confederate ordnance officials believed that a wider, thicker gasket might solve the problem. (Pete George, 7-28-12).

In addition, Confederate munition makers were unable to get the horseshoe-shaped seal in the bottom of the fuse to function properly. (emike123, 3-20-16).

It has been observed from sectioned artifacts that the support plug was often not screwed flush with the bottom of the fuse hole, but instead "stuck up several threads proud." This would prevent the fuse from seating flat against its gasket and might even damage the bottom of the fuse upon setback. Either condition could potentially cause a premature detonation. (John D. Bartelson, Jr., 8-5-12).

This may explain one cause of premature detonation: a Bormann fuse under-plug not being screwed down flush with the support shelf at the bottom of the main fuze. (Pete George, 8-15-12).

B. Abandonment of the Bormann Fuse by the South

The South was never able to resolve the problems associated with its Bormann fuses and therefore issued orders in late 1862 to discontinue their use. (emike123, 3-14-16).

As a consequence, Confederate ordnance officials replaced the Bormann time fuse with time-fuse adapters. These substitute fuses were designed to screw into the support-plug hole and utilized a gasket beneath the head. (John D. Bartelson, Jr., 8-1-12).

Not many of these substitute fuses are found today because the Confederacy eventually discontinued the manufacture of cannonballs with fuze holes designed to accept Bormann fuses. The more common Confederate copper-ball fuze adapter operated on the same principle while using copper more economically. (emike123, 8-1-12).


There are examples of Confederates in the Western Theater continuing to use Bormann-fuzed shells long after the order discontinuing their use, likely due to ammunition shortages. I dug three or four fired Confederate 12-pounder Bormann shells among several Polygonal Cavity shells at an Atlanta Campaign site. That discovery started my quest to reliably distinguish Confederate-made and U.S.-made Bormann fuzes, as discussed in the 1993 Dickey & George book. (Pete George, 5-1-16).

 

[alan polk]

II. Ways to Distinguish Between CS-Made Bormann Fuses/Shells and US-Made Bormann Fuses/Shells

A. Gasket Rebate

Whether the presence of certain gasket rebates can be used to determine whether a shell is Confederate (CS) or U.S. made has been questioned by some forum members.

"I would hazard a mere hunch that the fuse leather gasket rebate was a U.S. modification."

(John D. Bartelson, Jr., 2-5-15)

The South's Ordnance Manual simply copied the 1861 U.S. Ordnance Manual. (Woodenhead, 2-1-15).

Other forum members suggested a possible distinction:

The South experienced problems with its Bormann-fuzed cannonballs. One interim remedy was to add a rebate beneath the fuse for a gasket. As far as is known, U.S. shells did not have these rebates. (emike123, 7-26-12).

This gasket rebate found in Confederate shells is "not an 'extra' gasket, because U.S. Bormann shells also have a gasket." The difference is that the post-1861 Confederate gasket is wider and thicker than the standard Bormann gasket. (Pete George, 7-28-12).

The South suspected that the premature-detonation problem might be caused by "firing shock," which could split a seam inside the fuze and allow flame from the powder train to prematurely enter the shell's bursting cavity. Consequently, they believed that a wider, thicker gasket might solve the problem. (Pete George, 7-28-12).

With the Confederate rebate, there is a groove around the bottom of the threaded area that accepted the gasket. (CarlS, 7-27-12).


The following discussion is from Pete George (7-27-12):

More than 30 years ago, when I was studying ways to distinguish Confederate-made Bormann fuzes from U.S.-made ones, I noticed the large "gasket rebate" (groove) at the bottom of Confederate-made Bormann shells and began promoting the theory that its presence could be used to distinguish Confederate-made shells from U.S.-made shells. Full confirmation came through the large number of cutaway Confederate Bormann shells recovered from the Augusta, Georgia cache. Every example I have seen possesses the gasket rebate.

The guideline I formulated is simple: a gasket rebate indicates Confederate manufacture, while the absence of a gasket rebate suggests either U.S. manufacture or an 1861 Confederate shell made before the gasket remedy for premature detonation was adopted.

(Pete George, 7-27-12)

According to Pete George, this guideline has remained reliable for decades when examining sectioned Bormann shells containing identifiable Confederate-made or U.S.-made fuzes.

Callicles' sectioned Bormann shell is the first example I've seen that does not fit the guideline. Therefore, I think the simplest explanation is that his shell is a Confederate-made Bormann shell fitted with a captured U.S.-made Bormann fuze. Alternatively, it could be a captured Confederate shell fired by Union forces using a U.S.-made fuze. There is documented evidence that Union troops used captured Confederate ordnance during the Vicksburg Campaign.

(Pete George, 7-27-12)

Background Information

As is well known, Confederate forces experienced serious problems with Bormann fuzes detonating shells prematurely, often while still in the barrel or at the muzzle of the cannon.

Following the Battle of Fredericksburg, the problem became severe enough that Col. E. P. Alexander, Lee's Chief of Reserve Artillery, banned their use within the Army of Northern Virginia. Nevertheless, some continued to be used at Gettysburg and much later in the Western Theater due to ammunition shortages. (Pete George, 7-27-12).

One remedy attempted by Confederate ordnance officials was to manufacture Bormann-fuzed shells with a deep groove—known to machinists and engineers as a rebate—encircling the bottom of the shell's main fuze hole.

The purpose of the rebate was to accommodate a wider-than-normal leather gasket beneath the Bormann fuze. The theory was that premature detonations were caused by firing-blast flame passing the fuze's short threaded section and entering the shell's bursting charge from beneath the fuze.

In modern automotive terms, the oversized gasket functioned much like a head gasket, sealing the bottom of the main fuze hole from intrusion by firing-blast flame. (Pete George, 7-27-12).

Important Note:

U.S.-made Bormann fuzes also utilized a leather or rubber gasket beneath the fuze. However, the U.S. gasket was no wider than the body of the fuze itself. Consequently, U.S.-made Bormann fuze holes do not exhibit a gasket rebate. (Pete George, 7-27-12).

The gasket rebate/groove identification method appears to be reliable provided the Confederate-made Bormann shell does not date from 1861. (Pete George, 7-28-12).

 

[alan polk]

Deleted

 

[alan polk]

B. 90-Degree Pie Slice on the Face of the Bormann Fuse

The use of the 90-degree pie-slice as an identification feature has been questioned by some forum members. (John D. Bartelson, Jr., 2-12-16).

Others suggest that it can be useful. According to one observation, if a Bormann fuse has a 90-degree pie-shaped opening, it is not Confederate-made; however, the reverse is not necessarily true. (emike123, 7-25-12). It appears that Confederate Bormann pie slices are typically 45 degrees, while U.S.-made examples may be either 90 or 45 degrees. (emike123, 7-27-12).

For what it is worth, one forum member measured five Confederate Bormann fuses and found that all measured approximately 60 degrees. (6lbgun, 7-27-12).

Update: 9-8-17

I can give my current opinion, but I have to admit that I have paid little attention to Federal artillery ammunition. There is so much to learn about Confederate ammunition, and I have primarily focused on field projectiles from the Virginia theater. Molds and dies for these fuzes were made in many different locations, including Nashville, Memphis, Mobile, and various locations in Georgia, so minor variations in the pie slice would not be unexpected. The South also imported thousands of Bormann fuzes.

Nonetheless, if the 90-degree pie slice was part of the U.S. Ordnance Department's official pattern, I would lean in that direction whenever one appears, even if it is found in a shell that otherwise appears Confederate. In the 30 years since I began photographing Confederate projectiles, I have assembled a study collection of more than 1,000 documented shells (with multiple views of each), allowing side-by-side comparison and the development of conclusions. A similar study needs to be conducted on Federal ammunition. For now, I would follow Pete George's opinion and consult Jack Melton on the question. (Woodenhead, 9-8-17)

C. High-Lip Feature of Bormann Fuses

Whether the "high-lip" feature can be conclusively used to distinguish Confederate from U.S.-made Bormann fuses has been debated by forum members.

There is some question as to whether the high-lip design is uniquely Confederate or merely a variation produced by a particular contractor or arsenal, since Tredegar was not the only manufacturer of Bormann fuses. The primary difference between the high-lip and standard Bormann fuse is the absence of several threads. (6lbgun, 2-8-15).

Federal-made fuses also appear with the high-lip feature, so not all high-lip fuses are Confederate. (emike123, 7-26-12). A limited number were manufactured and used by the United States during the Civil War. (Dave the Plumber, 7-26-12).

D. Hash Marks on the Face of Bormann Fuses

This identification feature appears to be among the least controversial. The following guide is based on observations by Pete George (paraphrased):

* A U.S.-made Bormann fuze's time index begins with a ¾-second hash mark.
* Confederate-made Bormann fuzes begin with a ½-second hash mark. In other words, there are two hash marks before the "1" second mark.
* U.S.-made fuzes end at either 5 seconds or 5¼ seconds.
* Confederate-made fuzes end at either 5¼ seconds or 5½ seconds. A 5½-second fuze will have two hash marks beyond the 5-second mark.
* The number of hash marks preceding the "1" mark is considered a reliable indicator of whether a fuze is Confederate- or U.S.-made.

(Pete George, July 23–28, 2012)

The only alternative explanation offered came in the form of a question. John D. Bartelson, Jr. asked whether U.S. arsenals may have received requests from the field for shorter or longer burn times, resulting in a greater variety of Bormann fuzes. He also questioned whether some 45-degree pie-slice faces might represent modifications of the 90-degree pattern to accommodate shorter burn times. (John D. Bartelson, Jr., 7-30-12).

E. Size of Numbers and Castings on the Fuse

The size of the cast numbers and any markings on the fuse should be examined. These may include "U.S.," stars, or directional arrows. (Dave the Plumber, 7-26-12).

Some U.S.-made fuses have "U.S." cast into the face, and a backward "S" is considered a strong indicator of U.S. manufacture. (John D. Bartelson, Jr., 7-28-12).

F. Single-Slot and Double-Slotted Bormann Fuses

Some researchers believe the double-slot design was a later Federal innovation intended to reinforce the wrenching area and reduce distortion during installation or removal. (emike123, 1-20-13).

The double-slotted Bormann fuze, featuring two separate square wrench holes, is considered exclusively Federal-made and did not function differently from the single-slot version. (Pete George, 3-14-16).

Because of the Confederate order issued in late 1862 to discontinue the use of Bormann fuzes, there was little reason to develop or manufacture a double-slot version. (emike123, 3-20-16).

G. Bormann Fuse Under-Plugs

In field artillery calibers (6-, 12-, and 24-pounders), most Confederate-made Bormann fuzes have brass under-plugs, while most U.S.-made examples have iron under-plugs. However, Pete George noted that he has observed enough exceptions—including Confederate fuzes with iron plugs and U.S. fuzes with brass plugs—that the material alone should not be considered a reliable identification feature. (Pete George, 8-5-11).

H. Bormann Moisture-Seal Disc / Fuse Base Seal

Based on field observations, Pete George noted that U.S.-made Bormann fuzes typically use a tin-plated sheet-iron base-seal disc, while Confederate-made examples generally use sheet copper. (Pete George, 9-10-12).

Additional Discussion Regarding the Fuse Base-Seal Disc

The disc covered an aspirin-shaped tablet of mealed black powder located in the circular cavity at the center of the fuze's underside. The seal disc was intended to be pierced shortly before installation in the shell. (Pete George, 9-10-12).

The seal disc is not a separate component attached to the fuse; rather, it is an integral part of the fuse itself. (emike123, 9-10-12; Pete George, 9-10-12).

Field recoveries show considerable variation in the number and shape of the piercings. Most examples exhibit three or four holes, although some have only one. This observation is based largely on recovered artifacts, as little Civil War documentation on the subject survives. (Pete George, 9-10-12).

It appears that the fuse was filled with powder, after which the wafer-like base seal was installed and pressed into place to retain the contents. (John D. Bartelson, Jr., 9-10-12).

According to Pete George, the seal was machine-pressed into place rather than soldered, since soldering would have been hazardous due to the powder already contained within the fuze. He also believed that the horseshoe-shaped piece sealing the bottom of the powder train was likely pressed into place at the same time. He further suggested that the piercing holes were probably not made until shortly before the fuze was installed in the shell. (Pete George, 9-10-12).

CarlS noted that the holes observed on recovered examples do not appear to have been machine-punched or drilled. This suggests that the fuzes may have been delivered to artillery units with unpierced discs and that the holes were made in the field using a nail or similar tool immediately before installation. (CarlS, 9-10-12).

 

[alan polk]

Additional Discussion Regarding Fuse Base-Seal Discs

Preparation of Spherical Case Shot

Quoted from the U.S. Army Ordnance Manual:

Spherical Case Shot

To Charge the Shot.—Fill the chamber with musket powder, ramming it slightly with a wooden drift and light mallet; screw in the iron plug, leaving its top flush with the bottom of the large portion of the fuze hole, and lay over it a thin leather washer with a hole in the center; fill the hole in the plug and washer with rifle powder; punch four or six small holes in the tin disk in the bottom of the fuze; put a little white lead on the threads of the fuze, and screw the fuze firmly into the shell.

Fix the spherical case shot the same as round shot.

I do not see how we can speculate further on how and when the holes were punched in the Bormann magazine-closing disk. Once the fuze threads were coated and the fuze screwed into the shell's fuze hole against the leather gasket, an airtight seal was created. (Quoted by John D. Bartelson, Jr., 9-11-12).

Second Excerpt from the U.S. Army Ordnance Manual of 1862

As a follow-up to my last post on this thread, I located a description of how the Bormann fuze was charged with powder after being cast from lead and tin:

MATERIALS—Mealed powder, musket powder, rifle powder, disks of tin.

UTENSILS—A strong screw press, annular charger the size of the ring, annular drift, flat drift, and round drift.

Take the mold in which the fuze was cast; place the fuze in the parts of the mold containing the screw and the upper or graduated side, and secure the mold by a ring driven onto it.

Draw up the piston and fill the charger by pressing it into the mealed powder contained in a shallow pan. Place the charger over the groove and force down the piston, transferring the powder into the fuze. Insert the button in the magazine and the pin in the priming hole to preserve their shapes. Place the ring on the powder and, with the annular drift, force it down by means of a strong screw press, bringing the ring flush with the surface of the fuze. Rivet the ring in place with another drift.

Withdraw the button and pin; charge the priming hole with rifle powder and fill the magazine with musket powder. Cover the magazine with a disk of tin and rivet it in place by means of first a flat drift and then a round drift, which turns down part of the metal of the fuze over the disk.

Remove the fuze from the mold, place it in a screw chuck made to fit it, and turn off the lower surface in a lathe until it is smooth and of the proper thickness. The powder of the fuze is now perfectly sealed from the air. The fuze may be varnished.

(Quoted by John D. Bartelson, Jr., 9-11-12).

 

[alan polk]

III. Miscellaneous Discussions

A. Travel Time of Projectiles and Alternative Settings

Calculations indicate that a 12-pounder shell whose fuze was cut for a ½-second burning time would explode at approximately 170 yards (510 feet) from the cannon's muzzle. Because a 12-pounder shell travels at over 600 miles per hour, "the shell's explosion is not enough to reverse the fragments' forward speed," and thus would not send fragments back toward the cannon's position. A 12-pounder shell traveled approximately 340 yards in one second. (Pete George, 7-28-12).

The Civil War artillerist's manual states that if canister ammunition has been exhausted, a gun crew may pierce the Bormann fuze at the "zero point" and use case-shot shells as a substitute for canister. (Pete George, 7-28-12).

6lbgun related a primary account in which an artillery captain stated:

"One section of the battery, having used up all of its canister, used case shot and shell without any fuze at all. The rounds burst as they left the gun, with good effect."

(Quoted by 6lbgun, 7-28-12).

B. Was the Bormann Fuse Attached at the Arsenal or in the Field?

At least in the U.S. Navy, projectiles were issued armed with a "Bormann fuze complete," suggesting that they were prepared at the arsenal. (Mccaul, 9-24-12).

John D. Bartelson, Jr. cited the 1862 U.S. Army Ordnance Manual describing how the Bormann fuze was charged with powder and sealed after casting. The sequence of operations suggests that the fuze was fully manufactured and sealed before being passed on for shell filling and final assembly. (Quoted by John D. Bartelson, Jr., 9-11-12).

Bormann fuzes were reportedly installed at arsenals using a special tool. Because they were made of relatively soft metal, removal would typically result in damage to the fuze. (John D. Bartelson, Jr., 7-28-12).

One forum member cited an 1863 Ordnance Manual directive that appeared to contain arsenal instructions rather than field instructions, providing additional evidence that Bormann fuzes were installed at the arsenal. (6lbgun, 7-29-12, "12-pd Case Shot Cut in Half," Reply #34).

6lbgun also expressed the opinion that spare fuzes were likely issued as a matter of course. (6lbgun, 7-29-12).

Alternative View

Pete George argued that Bormann fuzes were not necessarily installed at the arsenal, citing the following observations (7-28-12):

* Bormann fuzes could be unscrewed.
* Union 12-pounder limber chest contents diagrams show a separate compartment for fuzes.
* Caches of unfired Bormann shells have been recovered, along with shells lacking Bormann fuzes altogether.
* Bormann fuze wrenches have been recovered from artillery positions and camps.
* One version of the U.S.-made fuze has a feathered arrow on its face pointing in a counterclockwise direction.
* The thin metal disc at the center of the fuze's underside was intended to prevent water or humidity from entering the fuze's flame hole during storage.
* Before use, the artilleryman had to pierce one or more holes through the metal disc to allow flame from the fuze to enter the shell's bursting-charge cavity.

(Pete George, 7-28-12).

C. Sideloader Case Shot

The following explanation is from Pete George:

The Reason for Manufacturing Sideloader Case Shot

When the Confederacy's supply of lead became scarce and iron case-shot balls had to be substituted for lead ones, the traditional method of creating a powder cavity inside the mass of case-shot balls became impractical.

In lead-ball case-shot shells, a large auger bit could simply be drilled down through the fuze hole, creating a cavity for the bursting charge. This method did not work with iron balls because the drill bit would not effectively cut through the mass of iron spheres. Instead, it would loosen the balls or become jammed.

To solve this problem, Confederate ordnance personnel developed the sideloader case-shot shell. These shells were cast with two threaded openings: the normal fuze hole and an additional side-loading hole.

A thick iron rod was inserted through the fuze hole to the bottom of the empty shell. The shell was then turned on its side with the side-loading hole facing upward. Case-shot balls were poured into the shell until it was full, and a molten matrix—such as asphalt, sulfur, or, in some Confederate examples, pine resin—was poured in to fill the remaining space. After the matrix cooled and hardened, a closure plug was screwed into the side-loading hole. The iron rod was then removed, leaving behind a cavity for the bursting charge.

For lead side plugs, a cylindrical lead rod could simply be twisted into the threaded side-loading hole. The soft lead would form its own threads. The excess lead could then be cut off flush with the shell's surface and tapped flat.

For many decades, collectors and researchers believed that no Bormann-fuzed sideloader case shot had been produced. However, sometime during the late 1990s, either Colonel John Biemeck or one of his associates from the Army of Northern Virginia Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team reportedly recovered an intact Bormann-fuzed 12-pounder sideloader shell, along with part of another example, near the Wilderness battlefield.

Pete George suggested that these specimens most likely originated from the 1863 Chancellorsville fighting in that area rather than from later 1864 operations.

As Pete noted, these examples were 12-pounders. He had never seen or heard of a 6-pounder Bormann-fuzed sideloader case-shot shell. Some converted 6-pounder examples do exist, however, utilizing the Confederate copper Bormann-replacement time-fuze plug rather than their original Confederate solder-alloy Bormann fuze.

Regards,

Pete George
(December 3, 2017)

 

[huskerblitz]

@alan polk do you recall our conversation about the Bormann fuse used at Chickasaw Bayou that was removed for an Ohio soldier's face?

 

[alan polk]

@alan polk do you recall our conversation about the Bormann fuse used at Chickasaw Bayou that was removed for an Ohio soldier's face?

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I do indeed! And that's a nice display! Is that yours?

 

[huskerblitz]

I do indeed! And that's a nice display! Is that yours?

No, that's actually at the Courthouse Museum in Vicksburg.

 

[UCVRelics]

Alan, Great read. Thanks for posting and your are spot on about Peter. Hopefully you will be at the Brandon show this weekend.

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

Thank you !
I really enjoyed that.

The first Bormann Fuse shell I bought around 2002 from (Shiloh Relics) remains in my "man cave"

It's a perfect display piece that had a fair price.
I did have a couple of experts look at it before I bought it.
While they both agreed it was original to the era, neither would speculate about it's origin.

Most of the actual fuse is long gone, but what little remains is always a conversation "starter".