Cannonballs: Size Matters

In the movie 'Gods and Generals' the artillery commanders order "counterbattery fire, 800 yards, 5 second fuse". I thought the fuse time related to burst time for the shell. I am under the impression that cannons were fired by friction primers by the time of the civil war, so there would be no fuse to fire the cannon.

Of course there would be nothing keeping them from using solid cannonballs during the civil war. I really haven't paid that much attention to the type of projectiles used in the old movies. Millitary history isn't really my strong suit, anyway.

Yeah... They had an assortment of different rounds.

Some explosive shells with shot or schrapnel inside, some clay shot (basically shotgun style), solids and chains style (similar to naval demasting shells).

Smoetimes, I understood they even just filled the barrels with "what ever you can find".

Regards,
Sapper