ammunition crates

[cplchrisv]

I have heard at different reenactments that the artillery ordinance packing boxes were color coded depending on their specific type of ordinance. Any one know about this?



Cpl Chris Vukovich
1st Missouri light artillery
Co K

[Vicksburg Dave]

Yes, colors were different according to weight and type of projectile.

[hta1970]

This is from the 1863 Ordnance Manual for Use of Officers of the Confederate States Army First Edition pg 265. It is primarily a reprint of the US manual of 1861, but with additional date concerning material peculiar to the Confederate service.

According to it, shot was to be packed in olive cases, shell in black, spherical-case in red and canister in light drab. The kind of ammunition was to be marked in large white letters. the place and date of fabrication were to be marked on the inside of the cover.

The only image I have for a case of Confederate origin is a black and white photo from the reprint of the 1862 Field Manual for the Use of the Officers on Ordnance Duty. I can't make out what color of the crate, if it is painted at all, and the source of the crate is not mentioned, but the letters on the outside are black, rather than the regulation white. it says:

Friction Primers
8 Lgt 12 Pdr
GUN CANst
FIXED
RICHMOND
ARSENAL

[roundshot]

A good source for correctly marked and painted ammo boxes of many types:
http://charliesboatworks.com/Artillery1.htm

[Arkaos]

Bob,

Thank you for that link. We have been looking for a source of boxes and he had just what we wanted.

Steve Black

[1stMaine]

Comrade,

Just to play the devil's advocate for a moment, I would ask you to reflect upon why you might have these in the field? I know they are handy for hiding things, and are a nice prop to give that "ordnance" feel to any display, but in the field, your ammunition would be loaded from these wagons into the limber chests at some safe distance, and most likely not in your camp. Those boxes would be left by the wagons of the reserve train where you drew your rounds from. There would be little place for you to carry those empty boxes back, anyway.

I could certainly see them in a fort or fixed seige position, absolutely, or with the reserve ammunition trains. However, explaining whay you have them in a campaign situation might be a tad tricky.

Again, I am only tossing this up for discussion. I have several of these boxes and i use them in my jouse to store my CW stuff between events, but tey don't leave the house :)

Just sayin'...

Respects,

[Arkaos]

Tim,

We are going to use one as a pass box to carry rounds from our magazine to the field and the others will be used for display in our museum.

And in case you are wondering where all of this is taking place, Pea Ridge NMP.

Steve Black

[Mbond057]

Tim,

Hello!

As you pointed out I also believe it would depend on the event and scenarios (like most everything we do) that would dictate what weapons, uniforms, equipment, and supplies are needed for that impression.

For a static display of living history explaining the different types of artillery ammunition, I can see where the ammo boxes and dummy rounds would make for excellent show and tell.