#213-CIVIL WAR SALE: TWO CANNISTER MINI CANNON BALLS

This lot consists of two items, both golf ball sized cannister shot as shown.
One is smooth and well finished while the other is very rough. It may have been in this condition when shot or it could have deteriorated/rusted in the ground for more than 150 years. Both were dug but I do not have information on precisely where they were found.

Cannister balls could be far deadlier than a large single cannon ball. The cannisters were like large coffee cans stuffed with balls such as these; in some cases they were filled with other metal scraps, nails orother sharp items.

Once fired the cannon balls would rain down on the enemy with each small ball wreaking havoc on the enemy troops--each one more than capable of killing a man. A Union soldier described a fellow soldier near him being "liquefied" when he was hit. There was virtually nothing of him remaining.