Original CW battlefield recovery

[RickeyB]

What a cool discovery. A long time friend of my dad's just gave me these musket balls with wrapping along with several minnies that were carved into fishing weights. Somehow or the other this one was protected from the fate of the others. It was picked off the battlefield of The battle of Harrisburg (Tupelo MS), July 1864. This gentleman grew up on the battlefield in the 1930's. He said most came from a great uncle that previously owned the land. He showed me the most amazing family heirlooms from the CW that were in excellent condition. It weighs 34.3 grams and is 3.9 mm x -3.6 mm. The grams are correct,not sure if the caliper measurements are though. Trying to get them right for Cannonballguy LoL. Anyway to tell if southern or northern manufacture?

 

[BosnMate]

Great find, it looks like buck and ball, however the powder section of the paper cartridge is missing. That ball wouldn't stay in the paper with any kind of rough handling, and the way the paper curves around the ball, it looks to me like it was tied in place and the powder charge was attached. Here's what I think the entire cartridge would look like.