Union 3-Inch Schenkl Shell with Combination Fuse

Union 3-Inch Schenkl Shell with Combination Fuse - Inventory Number: ART 468

Recovered Battle of Falling Waters, Maryland

An exceptional condition battlefield relic from the final stages of the Gettysburg Campaign, this original Union 3-inch Schenkl artillery shell retains its rare combination fuse and was employed as case shot. This projectile was recovered at the Battle of Falling Waters, Maryland, the climactic engagement of the Confederate retreat from Gettysburg in July 1863.

Designed by Major John P. Schenkl, this advanced shell featured a conical shape and rifled body, offering improved range and accuracy for the Union’s 3-inch ordnance rifles. The attached combination fuse, intended to detonate at a set time after firing, adds significantly to the rarity and completeness of this example. Case shot shells such as this were filled with small iron balls and designed to burst above enemy formations, raining deadly shrapnel on Confederate troops.

Artifacts recovered from the Falling Waters battlefield are highly sought after, as the site marked the end of Lee’s withdrawal across the Potomac River following his defeat at Gettysburg. A historic and well-preserved example of Union artillery innovation from a pivotal moment in the Civil War.

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Inventory Number: ART 468