Though the 6-lb shell is common in general, it is one of the rarest types of artillery ordnance found at Gettysburg. The only 6-lb gun at Gettysburg belonged to Latham’s North Carolina battery which moved into position on the Confederate right center around 4:00 pm of July 2^nd. The battery opened fire first on Devil’s Den and then shifted to the Peach Orchard area. Before dark the 6-lb gun was disabled and replaced by a captured 10-lb Parrott.

This 6-lb shell was recovered in the Peach Orchard area and converted into an oil lamp by well-known early Gettysburg dealer and museum operator, J. A. Danner.

Danner removed the powder and fuse from this shell and painted its place of recovery on the shell body in white paint. Shell reads “PICKETT’S FRONT / JULY / 1863.” The paint has worn some over the years. “PICKETT’S FRONT” is easily readable and “JULY” can be made out. “1863” is faint but there.

The shell body is moderately pitted but is otherwise clean. Three period studs have been screwed into the bottom to act as legs for the shell.

Attached to the fuse whole is the oil lamp wick mechanism and crown to hold the missing glass chimney. These style lamps usually had a red glass chimney attached.

This item was originally listed and sold through our catalog #10 in 1990.  [ad]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THIS ITEM, AS WITH ALL OTHER ITEMS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEB SITE,

MAY BE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR LAYAWAY PROGRAM.

FOR OUR POLICIES AND TERMS,

CLICK ON ‘CONTACT US’ AT THE TOP OF ANY PAGE ON THE SITE,

THEN ON ‘LAYAWAY POLICY’.