Kieth
.. Yeah I had a couple speculations of who it might be, but no real solid clues to figure out who, other than what I mentioned... Always had the interest including artillery. Years ago did some artillery gun crew park service volunteer work with the NPS, also had served on two reenactment artillery units in the past... both groups had originial guns... 12lb Napolean (always been the favorite)... the other a 14lb James (rebored & rifled M1841 6lbr).
Frequently traveling about seeking research fodder on a wide range of artifacts and items. I was one of the guys that museums and collectors would inquire to authenticate, research, and/or identify various articles. In more recent years working on a couple film documentaries, got access to several huge private collections that previously wasnt even known of. The research fodder was incredible. Held and examined parts of the USS Monitor... (Including its two Dalhgrens) an originial issued Medal of Honor... Flag reportedly from the CSS Alabama... Bronze deck gun off the Kersarge... hoards of flags, uniforms etc.
Had long interest in researching and making authentic reproductions of small arms ammunition boxes. Also just about anything that came out of the Richmond Arsenal. During the film work came across an original Richmond Arsenal Artillery shipping crate, fully intact including the inspector marked lid. Since have been digging deeper into it and also found two more... for research comparisons... Also researched the inspector. These boxes are what the shells were packed in and shipped to the field in to refill the limbers.... The surviving originals differ from what the "Regs" say they are prescribed to be... Plan to authenticlly reproduce some of those too... lol...
If your out and about around Richmond... Sailors Creek Battlefield Park now has an original Confederate Limber Chest on display in the new visitors center. It was one of several that were hidden and left behind in a local barn in Amelia Va in April 1865. When the Artillery got here from both Richmond and Petersburg the batteries were quickly reformed and reorganized. What they couldnt haul or carry with them was either buried or destroyed. There were probably hundreds of these limbers about. Apparently a couple units in Mahones Brigade probably without means take much with them... made use of a couple discarded limbers to put their regimental papers and goods in, stashed them. This was one of those... Stilll trying to research and figure out conclusively exactly where the infamous huge battery park was situated.... Listening to life long locals... everyone has a different location claim.... so still remains inconclusive.... They reportedly buried many gun tubes around the area also that couldnt be taken along with them...
I know of at least two bronze gun tubes that are still in the Appomattox River.... A few years ago while exploring around the James River in Richmond made an interesting discovery... The river was quite low due to drought... noticed something just under the water that had a familiar shape... thought it was just an illusion or rock shaped similar... curiosity finally got to me so waded out to see.... It was a M1861 10in Siege mortar tube.... I couldnt believe it.... recovery would be near impossible... but there she was (still is as far as I know) ...lol...
Frederick