Name/Title
CannonballsEntry/Object ID
2025.05.02.04Tags
MilitaryDescription
A usually round solid missile made for firing from a cannon (ca 18th century). While the exact date of these objects is unknown, they are representative of those used during the Revolutionary War.Dimensions
Dimension Description
Large cannonballCircumference
10 inDimension Description
Small cannonballCircumference
9 inMaterials
Material
MetalMaterial Notes
Iron is the likely metal or predominant metal used, but this has not been confirmed for these objects.Location
Location
Box
Box 15Cabinet
Display Case 10Room
Charles Whipple Greene Historical CollectionBuilding
George Hail Free LibraryDate
May 2, 2025Exhibition
Warren During the Revolutionary WarInterpretative Labels
Label Type
Usage LabelLabel
Cannon ball or shot was a sphere cast in iron. Mass times velocity gave it its most destructive punch; therefore it was less effective at a greater range. Fired in a flat trajectory, the iron ball was meant to bounce upon impact, like a stone skipping over water until it slammed into a line of infantry with the intent to behead or disembowel one or more soldiers packed tightly in ranks. Joseph Martin writes of soldiers eagerly chasing after spent British cannon balls that rolled harmlessly among them. Lugging the ball to the artillery officer, the ball was immediately added to the American munitions to return the favor; meanwhile the soldier was rewarded with a ration of rum for each ball he retrieved. (https://revolutionarywarjournal.com/cannon-projectiles/).Create Date
May 2, 2025Update Date
August 12, 2025
