This bullet is a .69 caliber Nesler. It is a solid ball with one deep groove and a round nose.  For use in rifled and smoothbore muskets, these so-called “shotgun slugs” were cast in Raleigh, N.C. at the Institute for the Deaf, Dumb, and the Blind. These were only issued to North Carolina state troops.  They were copied from the Belgian Nesler pattern ball used during the Crimean War.

This was recovered on Oak Ridge where Confederate General Rodes’ Division was heavily engaged on July 1, 1863. Rodes’ Division contained a large number of North Carolina regiments.

This particular relic was found by local Gettysburg resident John Cullison, who excavated relics on the field from 1935-1959.  Mr. Cullison sold his collection to the famed Gettysburg Rosensteel family, who held the primary collection of Gettysburg artifacts for many years.   [JET]

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