Although the cannon's barrel bore was 8.12 inches, both shot and shells were 7.92 inches in diameter.
The Tredagar Iron works could produce both solid shot and shell, and since it was believed that Virginia would face only wooden ships, she was given only the shell.
The artillerymen sent shot and shell roaring from the mouths of three cannons with devastating effect — 23 of 32 projectiles ripped into the Ceres.
Some with their faces off, some with their heads off, some torn into fragments and frightfully mangled by the round shot and shell, and others simply but effectually killed by bullet wounds".
From a nearby hillside, a New York Tribune reporter noted the "terrible shower of shot and shell," that greeted the troops as they closed on the fort, and watched as "they pushed their way" through it.
"Go and break through the lines," says Rufus. "And remember while you're out there risking your life and limb through shot and shell, we'll be in here thinking what a sucker you are".
Somehow the many rounds of shot and shell never hit anyone, though the house certainly gets mussed: dislodged chips of wood and plaster fly around wildly, walls fall down in a heap, the designer stainless-steel kitchen gets severely scratched.
V Cannon to right of them, Cannon to left of them, Cannon behind them Volley'd and thunder'd; Storm'd at with shot and shell, While horse and hero fell, They that had fought so well Came thro' the jaws of Death, Back from the mouth of Hell, All that was left of them, Left of six hundred.
III Cannon to right of them, Cannon to left of them, Cannon in front of them Volley'd and thunder'd; Storm'd at with shot and shell, Boldly they rode and well, Into the jaws of Death, Into the mouth of Hell Rode the six hundred.
Having spent the last week (yes, it really is only a week) sheltering from the fiercest of shot and shell from our enemies, it is perhaps only natural for some to believe that, if only we had done things better, it might have all turned out somehow different.
Yorktowns coal bunkers could carry up to 400 LT of the fuel, and were shielded from "shot and shell".
