The stand of grape was the artillerist's weapon of last resort. Once the enemy got close to the battery, the gunners would load these rounds, and the flimsy stand would burst on firing sending the contents in scatter fashion against the troops charging the cannon. The fire was devastating against the troops but the enemy would be so close that options to reload and shoot would have been limited.

A stand of grape consists of top and bottom plates, three tiers of three balls each (9 total) held in place with two rings, and the whole thing held together with a nut and bolt running through the center. The threaded nut is on the top.

This size projectile could be used with any 6.4” cannon, a smoothbore or rifled 32-pounder, or the Confederate Brook rifle. Projectile measures approximately 6.4” in diameter and 9” tall. The individual balls measure approximately 2.87” although some irregularities are present. The whole piece has been well preserved and coated and overall is in great condition and very solid. One ring has separated at its joint and two of the balls show some material loss or rust and flaking.

This was recovered from the site where a Confederate munition train traveling between Camden and Bentonville, South Carolina, on the Wilmington & Manchester Railroad was destroyed by General Edward E. Potter's raiders in 1865.

The following is a portion of the official report: “...We moved on the Middleton Depot, and there found the railroad trains we were seeking. On the 20th 18 locomotives were destroyed and 200 cars, more than half of them being filled with subsistence, ordnance, and quartermaster's stores and railway machinery. On the 21st we began moving toward Georgetown by the Santee road, and at noon of that day I received a dispatch by flag of truce from Major-General Young, stating that a truce had been agreed upon on the 19th instant between Generals Johnston and Sherman.”

A fine example of a stand of grape actually excavated from a documented site.  [jet] [ph:jet]

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