1861 August 24 Richmond [Virginia]

[The following is a printed form filled out by hand]

INVOICE of Ordnance and Ordnance Stores turned over by me this 24
day of August 1861
Capt Wood Asst
Quartermaster C. S. Army, for transportation to Capt Cocke

Capt. C C Cocke
Camp Magruder


NO.
44 Boxes
2 Kegs

CONTENTS

294 Rounds 6 pdr Shot
238 " 6 " Sph[erical] Case
70 " 6 " Canister
24 Spare Cartidges
900 Friction Primers
43 Yds Slow Match
43 Port fires
]

I certify that the above Invoice is correct.

W N Smith
Mil[itary] Store Keeper
CSA

MONTGOMERY Richmond August 24th 1861

Cary C. Cocke was in command of the Fluvanna Artillery.

In the above list the six pounder Shot refers to heavy iron cannonballs. Early in the war the Confederate artillery used these rounds which were no match against the Union 12 pounders. By 1862 these 6 pounders were melted down and recast as 12 pounder Napoleons. The Spherical Cases were round shells filled with balls and powder. The Canisters were Civil War "anti-personnel weapons" consisting of cans filled with balls and powder designed to explode as soon as they left the cannon's bore. Of all the artillery they were the most dangerous and feared. Friction primers were hollow metal tubes about 3 inches long and 1/4 inch wide filled with gunpowder. A pin with a serrated edge was pushed through two holes drilled in the top. One end of the pin had a loop which was attached to a 6 inch rope lanyard. The tube was inserted into a vent at the back end of the cannon's barrel and from there into the bore. When the lanyard was yanked the pin was drawn across the top creating a spark which ignited the powder inside the tube and threw a flash down the barrel to explode the powder behind the shot and propel the shot out of the cannon. These friction primers represented the most advanced technology available. But the armies were still using older technology to ignite the charges, hence the distribution of slow match and portfires. The conclusion from the list is that Cocke's "Fluvanna Artillery," along with being armed with small and easily-outmatched 6-pounder guns, was occasionally firing those pieces with technology that was literally decades old. [with thanks to Albemarle County, Va., Civil War historian Rick Britton.]

MSS 640