Created by
Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Company, American, 1850 - 1881
Subject of
Brown, John, American, 1800 - 1859
Meriam, Francis Jackson, American, 1837 - 1865
Date
1859
Medium
lead and lead alloy with paper, gunpowder, and thread
Dimensions
H x W x D (cartridge): 2 9/16 × 1/2 × 1/2 in. (6.5 × 1.2 × 1.2 cm)
H x W x D (bullet): 1 × 1/2 × 1/2 in. (2.5 × 1.2 × 1.2 cm)
H x W x D (cartridge case): 1 9/16 × 1/2 × 1/2 in. (4 × 1.2 × 1.2 cm)
Description
An unspent .52 caliber Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Company cartridge from the 1859 raid on Harpers Ferry. The cartridge consists of a Minié ball and a cartridge case made from paper and thread.
The cartridge was kept at the Kennedy Farmhouse that served as the headquarters for the raid. When the raid failed, the three men guarding the headquarters and its store of weapons and ammunition fled. This cartridge was carried by Francis Jackson Meriam.
The cartridge was stored in a tobacco tin (NMAAHC 2023.84.2).
Place used
Washington County, Maryland, United States, North and Central America
Classification
Weapons and Ammunition
Movement
Abolitionist movement
Type
minié balls
cartridges
Topic
American South
Antislavery
Resistance
Slavery
U.S. History, 1815-1861
Violence
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2023.84.1
Restrictions & Rights
Public domain
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5bbc895b3-153c-4c6b-8c47-7308f665854c

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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