Artillery Tar Bucket - Battle Scarred / SOLD

Artillery Tar Bucket - Inventory Number: ART 462 / SOLD

This tar bucket would have accompanied each field piece on the limber, attached by a hook on the axle. It was also referred to as a grease bucket. The grease bucket was made of sheet iron. It had a metal cover which was secured to the bucket by a metal stud riveted to the top. The handle was a chain attached to two hooks on the bucket. Bucket was filled with tar or grease to keep the wheels functional while on the campaign.

These heavy gauge steel pots were not immune to hail of projectiles intended to silence the batteries.  This example has a distinct round impression of a musket ball or case shot and several other dents that are also likely shrapnel.

Ex: Texas Civil War Museum

Inventory Number: ART 462 / SOLD