alot of cannon balls during the civil war had time fuses meaning when fired at a target they would go off according to the time set the same as our artillery shells today. civil war shells that are not solid shot are very unstable. I live 15 miles from gettysburg and years ago a fellow found a shell not knowing about them he tried to weld it to a flag pole and it exploded and he lost his arm. I have been digging for civil war relics for 10 years and never dug a live one yet but if I do here's how I would handle it. 1st don't shake it around and do not drop it! get a bucket with a wet cloth in it to wrap shell in and make sure it does not move around in it. And by all means'' Do not'' Repeat ''Do not'' drill into it!!! take it to a civil war relic dealer and have it dearmed or defused.