1578

Original, intact, wooden ammunition crate for 1000 rounds of .69 "buck and ball" cartridges (the bal

Currency:USD Category:Artifacts / Non-wreck Artifacts Start Price:1,200.00 USD Estimated At:1,500.00 - 2,250.00 USD
Original, intact, wooden ammunition crate for 1000 rounds of .69  buck and ball  cartridges (the bal
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Original, intact, wooden ammunition crate for 1000 rounds of .69 "buck and ball" cartridges (the balls included), marked WATERTOWN ARSENAL / JANUARY 1863. Approx. 17" x 13" x 8", each ball about 3/4", about 30 kg total. The Watertown Arsenal, established in 1816, was a major American arsenal located on the northern shore of the Charles River in Watertown, Mass. and became a major supplier of ammunition to Union soldiers during the American Civil War to meet the demand for large numbers of field and coastal gun carriages. City Point on the James River, where this crate was salvaged, served as headquarters of the Union Army during the Siege of Petersburg in 1864-65. On August 9, 1864, a tremendous explosion (later confirmed as sabotage) shook the city and examination of the wreckage revealed that a barge loaded with ammunition had exploded, detonating 30,000 artillery shells and 75,000 rounds of small arms ammunition. Perhaps this crate (with WATERTOWN ARSENAL / JANUARY 1863 stenciled on lid, its contents of 1000 musketballs uncleaned and separate in bags of 50), which does show signs of fire damage, was on that barge, and while the ammunition didn't explode, it was rendered useless. The explosion didn't much hinder the Union war effort, as the City Point supply depot was back in full operation in nine days. (Pickup in person recommended; shipping at buyer's risk.) Found in the James River at City Point in Richmond, Virginia.