Civil War Flail?

[jbaxter0313]

I'm not sure this is at all civil war related or just a coincidence but given where I found it.....

When I was about 12 (early 80s) I lived in downtown Fairfax VA across from the current Fairfax County Courthouse and very near where the battle of Fairfax Courthouse took place and I'm pretty sure that Mosby's Raiders camped near there as well. Anyway, I was hunting crawdads in a creek and found what looks like a medieval flair or morning star. It was completed encrusted in rust when I found it It's cast iron but the chain doesn't look like it 'goes' with the ball.

Any thoughts on a better identification, age, or what it might have been doing where I found it? Were these types of weapons even used in the Civil War?

Thanks a million for any help or thoughts you might have!

Jason

[21stTNCav]

Possible Chain Shot?

http://images.search.yahoo.com/image...131rq0k9l&vm=r