✅ SOLVED Frags, Underplugs(?) and fancy chain

[RustyRelics]

It's a long shot, but why not. I dug this fragment two weeks ago. I believe it is from a Hotchkiss, but here is the tough question of the day. What size shell did it belong too? I am new to this, and to me, it looks kinda small. If you need more pics, let me know.






Here is another fragment that is puzzling me. This is my first.







And here is a piece of chain I dug up as well. Because of it's location, I am assuming that this is trace chain. Any other thoughts on it?



It may not show up in the photo, but each link is twisted.

 

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[TheCannonballGuy]

The civil war artillery shell fragment in your first photo is the side of the bottom of the "nose portion" of a yankee 3"-caliber Hotchkiss Case-Shot shell. See the sawed-in-half one in the photo below.

The frag in your second photo is from the fuze-hole area of a 12-Pounder (4.62" caliber) Bormann Case-Shot shell. I can't tell whether it is a yankee one or Confederate one. Again, see the sawed-in-half one in a photo below.

The thick round iron disc above the chain in your third photo is the "pusher plate" from inside a 3"-caliber Hotchkiss Case-Shot shell. When the shell exploded, the powder-charge below the pusher-plate drove it violently forward, which made sure the case-shot balls got pushed straight forward in the direction of the enemy. Some people call it a Hotchkiss Case-Shot "chamber separator disc"... because it does keep the powder charge and balls in their separate chambers inside the shell. Again, see the sawed-in-half one in a photo below.

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

TheCannonballGuy never ceases to amaze me with his knowledge of US history.

After I saw that beautiful '84 Morgan Dollar, I completely forgot what the question was.

Nice that you were able to get a confirmation on your Hotchkiss shell fragment.

Dave

 

[Carolina Tom]

CBG is the heat!

Congrats OP on the nice recoveries.

 

[Hawks88]

Nice find along with a quick and positive ID. Congrats

 

[A2coins]

Awesome id

 

[RustyRelics]

The artillery shell fragment in your first photo is the side of the bottom of the "nose portion" of a yankee 3"-caliber Hotchkiss Common-Shell (common meaning it contained only gunpowder, no antipersonnel case-shot balls). See the sawed-in-half one in the photo below.

The frag in your second photo is from the fuze-hole area of a 12-Pounder (4.62" caliber) Bormann Case-Shot shell. I can't tell whether it is a yankke one or Confederate one. Again, see the sawed-in-half one in a photo below.

The thick round iron disc above the chain in your third photo is the "pusher plate" from inside a 3"-caliber Hotchkiss Case-Shot shell. When the shell exploded, the powder-charge below the pusher-plate drove it violently forward, which made sure the case-shot balls got pushed straight forward in the direction of the enemy. Some people call it a Hotchkiss Case-Shot "chamber separator disc"... because it does keep the powder charge and balls in their separate chambers inside the shell. Again, see the sawed-in-half one in a photo below.

Wow! Thank you so much! You definitely know your artillery. Thank you!

 

[RustyRelics]

I guess we can call this one solved!

 

[Reanm8er]

Congrats Rusty and welcome to TNet!

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

I edited my previous reply, because I forgot to say they are from the civil war (not earlier or later), and I removed the word "common" which was from an earlier draft of my reply.