Civil War Heavy Explosive Ordnance: A Guide to Large Artillery Projectiles, Torpedoes, and Mines

Absterdam

114 Absterdam John Absterdam patented a number of projectile designs in 1862 and 1864. The Union Army Absterdam shells were made in the 3-inch and 4.5-inch calibers. Two of these 4.5inch designs are included in the book, having been used in the 1864-65 RichmondPetersburg siege. There are three designs of Absterdam projectiles: Type 1 has a lead cup sabot and two lead bourrelets; Type 2 has a lead cup sabot and one (upper) lead bourrelet; and Type 3 has a brass ring sabot with no bourrrelets. A hybrid Type 2/3 is documented in this book, with a brass ring sabot and one upper lead bourrelet. Absterdam had contracts with at least three foundries in addition to his own foundry to manufacture his projectiles: Dickson & Zane of Philadelphia; Chase, Sharp & Thompson of Philadelphia; and A.J. Smith.1 The first 3-inch Absterdam shells were ordered by the Union Ordnance Department from Chase, Sharp & Thompson on July 28, 1863, and delivered on February 8, 1864.2 The first 4.5-inch Absterdam projectiles were ordered by the Union Ordnance Department through Dickson & Zane on March 17, 1864, and delivered on September 27, 1864.3 Gen. Henry L. Abbot conducted extensive tests of Union projectiles during the siege of Petersburg in 1864-65. According to him, the 4.5-inch Absterdam was an “utter failure,” with 144 of 239 shells fired tumbling in flight and 90 of the 239 either bursting in the gun or not at all.4 1 Mowbray, 719, 741, 743, and 968. 2 Ibid., 740. 3 Ibid., 743. 4 Abbot, 96. ABSTERDAM 115 US 4.5-inch Absterdam Type 1 Shell Diameter: Length: Weight: Gun: 4.5-inch Siege Rifle Rarity: 5 4.46 inches 10.50 inches 31 pounds Sabot: Lead Cup Fuze: Missing Rifling: Unfired Provenance: Nonbattlefield. Battlefield recoveries mainly from Petersburg siege lines. Comments: This is the first pattern Absterdam shell, manufactured only in 1864. Cast into the base is the following: "AUG-12-62," the patent date. In tests during the Petersburg siege, General Abbot pronounced that this shell was "an utter failure." Courtesy of the Atlanta History Center 116 RIFLED PROJECTILES US 4.5-inch Absterdam Type 2/3 Shell Diameter: Length: Weight: Gun: 4.5-inch Siege Rifle Rarity: 7 4.40 inches 10.25 inches 20 pounds Sabot: Brass Ring (Lead Upper Ring) Fuze: HotchkissTime Rifling: Unfired Provenance: Unknown. Most battlefield recoveries are from late war Richmond-Petersburg lines. Comments: This shell is a hybrid between the Type 2 shell that had one upper lead bourrelet and a lead cup sabot and the Type 3 shell, which had no lead bourrelets and a brass ring sabot. Like the Type 3 sabot, there are six saw cuts in the sabot. ...