This inert shell is a US 2.9” Parrott shell 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 shell has a wonderful smooth body and has been coated with a preservative to protect the iron surfaces. The iron sabot at the base of the projectile is still intact and shows the effects of having been fired. There is no fuse in this shell.

Engraved on one side of the body beginning just below the nose 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.  See item #488-03 to view a 1977 letter from George that details the sale.  [jet]

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