Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Gettysburg Artillery Shell Fragments from the Geiselman Collection

Shenkl Shell fragments from the Black Horse Tavern Road

Hotchkiss Shell base from the Wheatfield

Hotchkiss Case Shot fragment from the Codori Farm (Pickett's Charge)

These fragments were originally from the John Plank Geiselman collection, which was sold through the Horse Soldier in 2005. Geiselman was a local Gettysburg resident that began collecting in the early 1920s, and had access to the collections of many local properties that were prominent during the battle (Trostle, Rose, Weikert, etc.) He was also able to acquire relics from early Gettysburg attractions like the Danner, Ziegler, and Oak Ridge Museums. Geiselman's collection was truly the last large group of Gettysburg relics assembled by a local resident.   

Friday, February 8, 2013

U.S. Artillery Lanyard and Friction Primer




Standard issue US artillery lanyard with 12 foot hemp chord and turned wood handle.
The "number 4 man" of the gun crew hooked the friction primer wire to the iron
 lanyard hook, and inserted the primer into the vent of the gun.



Gun Drill on a 12 lb. Napoleon from the old Gettysburg National Military Park visitor center.


US artillery crew with a 20 lb. Parrott Rifle.