Mortar shell found near Vicksburg

[Geographer]

Hello, I'm hoping this forum might be able to give me some advice. My father discovered this mortar shell near the Grant's Canal marker in present day Delta, LA back in the 1970s. It is 10 inches in diameter and weighs about 95 pounds. I suspect it is a CSA shell fired from the South Fort position on the Vicksburg side. I would like to disarm it and preserve it if possible. If you know of a munitions expert in the Vicksburg area, please pass along their name.

 

[UCVRelics]

I know a guy. I will PM you

 

[Bushwhacker Detectorist]

That is a 10 inch siege mortar. See the 2 depressions on both sides of the fuse. That was a clamp that would clamp into it and they would hoist the shell into the mortar. Awesome find!

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

I suspect it is a CSA shell fired from the South Fort position on the Vicksburg side.

I doubt it.
I would bet your Dad's discovery is a Union projectile.

That is a 10 inch siege mortar. See the 2 depressions on both sides of the fuse. That was a clamp that would clamp into it and they would hoist the shell into the mortar. Awesome find!

That was my first thought as well.
Grant's Canal is located where many of the Union Navy's mortar rafts and mortar schooners would have been anchored.

I'm guessing that is a piece of U.S. ordnance the Navy "left behind".

 

[Geographer]

I doubt it.
I would bet your Dad's discovery is a Union projectile.



That was my first thought as well.
Grant's Canal is located where many of the Union Navy's mortar rafts and mortar schooners would have been anchored.

I'm guessing that is a piece of U.S. ordnance the Navy "left behind".

Thank you for your insight. South Fort is over 2 miles from where this shell was found, so that makes sense. However, I was told by another expert that the fuse on this shell would likely make it CSA instead of Union. Did the Union mortar rafts have 10 inch mortars?

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

Did the Union mortar rafts have 10 inch mortars?

Yes indeed.
Along with 13 inch mortars:

https://www.usni.org/magazines/naval-history-magazine/2014/march/armaments-and-innovations-union-navys-stubby-gun

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

I forgot to add, your friend may be correct about the fuse.
It could be CSA. Both sides did use the weapon.
My theory that it's Union is because the Federals seemed to have more of
these mortars at Vicksburg than the Confederates.

Search this site and you will find much information.
Here's an interesting thread:

O

Thread 'Union Mortar rafts'

Mar 16, 2018

Hi all.
A question on Union Mortar rafts. I understand they were about 65 by 25ft and a 7ft draft. Are there any plans to one of these anywhere? Has any that were sunk ever been re-discovered and surveyed? I am not aware of any. wondering what you all know. Thanks in advance.

• old seadog
• Replies: 15
• Forum: Naval War - At Sea & Along Inland Waterways

• 

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

My theory that it's Union is because the Federals seemed to have more of
these mortars at Vicksburg than the Confederates.

Actually, I'm not aware of the Confederates having any of these mortars within the Vicksburg defenses.
(I'm sure our resident experts will correct me if I'm wrong)

 

[Geographer]

I did read that there was one 10" mortar at Confederate South Fort. https://www.nps.gov/vick/learn/historyculture/southft.htm

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

I did read that there was one 10" mortar at Confederate South Fort. https://www.nps.gov/vick/learn/historyculture/southft.htm

Thanks !

I was not aware of that ...