This is a Confederate 12-pdr solid shot engraved by Gettysburg resident Edward Woodward. Mr. Woodward was a local gunsmith who, with the growth of tourism after the fighting at Gettysburg, opened a shop selling bullets, shells and other battlefield relics. He was known for having made desk sets and for engraving shells and cannonballs found on the battlefield.  Some items were engraved with the exact location where they were found while others were marked “Gettysburg” and the date “1863”. The first known items made by Woodward were dated September 1865 and given to veterans who visited the battlefield.

This cannon ball has a wonderful smooth body and has been coated with a preservative to protect the iron surfaces. The crude mould seam around the ball is typical of southern manufacture.

Engraved on one side is “GETTYSBURG / 1863”. The engraving is strong and very readable. The engraving of the word “Gettysburg” ends with a flourish…a fern frond-looking detail continuing off of the last “g”. This is a typical characteristic of Woodward’s work. These engraved shells are quite rare and highly desirable.

This item was originally sold by George Lower (The Gettysburg Sutler) back in the late 1970s. George acquired these items directly from the William Ziegler family. Ziegler was a corporal in the 87^th PA Infantry during the Civil War, was captured, and imprisoned at Andersonville. He was a lifelong resident of Gettysburg. He amassed a large collection of relics starting in the 1870s. That collection remained intact until sold by Ziegler’s grandson to Mr. Lower.  This comes with a 1977 letter from George that details the sale of this item.  [jet]

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