Grapeshot

 

 

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Grapeshot cannon munition from the War of 1812 from Castine, Maine. It was discovered after a sever rain storm unearthed it in 1906. It was donated to the museum by Alta Getchell.

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It is approximately 1-1/2 inches in diameter.

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Several of these smaller

balls would be placed in

a canvas sack and tied

with string or light rope.

When complete it looked

like a bunch of grapes,

hence its name.

When the cannon was

discharged the sack and

rope would disintegrates.

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Whatever was in the path of these small cannon balls suffered a devastating result. The cannon was much like a huge shotgun.

 

The British occupied Castine during the War of 1812 from September 1, 1814 to April of 1815.

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