This specimen of Civil War artillery is a Confederate 3”, bourreleted Read common percussion shell with its original CS variant copper time fuse and intact copper tapered sabot. This specimen was found on the John Wible Farm in Gettysburg sometime after the fighting. The Read pattern shell, one of the earliest models of bourreleted Reads produced for CS 3” Ordnance Rifles, has distinct bands cast around its mid section and base. The artillery round appears to never have been fired as the tapered copper ring sabot exhibits no visible lands and grooves indicative of firing. Copper time fuse adapter is intact but it has lost its original paper time fuse. Bottom base of the shell exhibits its lathe dimple. The exterior of this cylindrical shell exhibits a pockmarked surface. Nose portion of the body has had the lathe dog knocked off long ago. Length: 7½”, diameter: 2.95”, weight 7 pounds, 6 oz. This C.S. 3” bourreleted Read artillery projectile is identified in John Geiselman’s collection by his museum listing. Previously sold as Item# R10934.

The individual who purchased this item varnished and lightly cleaned the shell, and applied white paint indicating its location of recovery. Above you will find photographs of the shell in its current state, and photographs of it in the never cleaned condition in which it was originally sold by us. If interested, we can have the paint removed and the shell restored more to a relic look. This would involve a fee of a minimum of $50.00.

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The Horse Soldier is pleased to offer a number of items from the John P. Geiselman collection, a collection that was on display for many years at the Geiselman Country Store Museum on Barlow - Two Taverns Road. Geiselman began his collecting as a child in the early 1920s, and during the pre-World II period had access to artifacts that had been purchased earlier at the estate sales of the Trostle, Rogers, Rose, Weikert, and Wentz farms - local properties that figured prominently in the battle and its aftermath. During this period he had access as well to the Hill , Plank, and Stewart collections, and was able to acquire other items that had been sold from turn-of-the-century relics establishments such as the Danner, Ziegler, and Oak Ridge Museums. Furthermore, Geiselman carefully documented most artifacts, and collectors perusing the list will be able to note, in many instances, not only the source of the relic and the date of its recovery, but also the part of the battlefield from which it came. In other words, his collection is the last major grouping of Gettysburg artifacts assembled and documented by a local resident.

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