Civil War Whatzit

[Indian Steve]

Howdy All, A good friend took me to a Civil War camp site near Danville VA. He found 2 three ring bullets and part of a cannon fuse. He has really picked this site hard. I found a piece of camp lead and this little lead "washer". My friend said several have been found on this site and a couple were found on a small steel shaft around 2 inches long with a "washer" at both ends. "washer" is pictured next to a 22 shell. Also picked up a few friends.

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

Going by its size next to the .22 cartridge-casing, the "washer" is the expansion disc mounted on the base of a .58-caliber Williams "bore-cleaner" bullet (which is strictly a yankee-manufactured bullet.) The disc is made of zinc. It is held onto the bullet's base by a hardened-lead "thumbtack" -- as shown in the photo below.

 

[Indian Steve]

Thanks Cannonballguy, It measures 1/2 inch across at its widest and is concave. Hole is 1/8 inch. Camp was Confederate camp.Thanks Again, Steve

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

Thanks for providing the measurements. Did you make them with a ruler, or a caliper? If they are highly accurate caliper-measurements, they indicate the object is not a Williams bullet's expansion-washer ...which is .56" wide and its hole is about .20 wide.

 

[Indian Steve]

First measurements were with a ruler. With caliper outside measurement is .481 and hole is .142. Thanks Again, steve