[Civil War]. A pair of Union Army Minié balls salvaged from the Gettysburg Battlefield. 1863.

Approximately 1 1/4 in. each. Accompanied by handwritten note, "These bullets were found in National Cemetery in 1937."

The Minié ball was designed by Claude-Étienne Minié in 1849. Composed of soft, hollow lead, the balls were designed to expand upon impact in order to inflict maximum damage, which often resulted in limbs requiring amputation. An armorer at Harper's Ferry by the name of Captain James H. Burton is credited with the addition of a deep conical cavity at its base which would more efficiently fill with gas once fired, thus causing greater damage. These balls were extensively used by the Union Army during the Civil War.

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Printed Books & Early American Photography, including Selections from the Larry Ness Collection

[Civil War]. A pair of Union Army Minié balls salvaged from the Gettysburg Battlefield. 1863.

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