Civil War-era artifact in U.S. home turns out to be live ammunition: police

A Texas resident's long-held belief about a Civil War-era artifact turned out to be a dangerous reality when it was confirmed to be live ammunition. The Atascosa County Sheriff's Office responded to a call Monday morning from a homeowner who suspected the ordnance in his possession might be live.

The homeowner had reportedly owned the object for years, assuming it was a dummy round, a non-explosive replica. However, a military acquaintance's suspicion prompted the call to authorities. Deputies from the sheriff's office contacted an explosive disposal unit from Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio.

Specialists arrived at the scene and confirmed the roughly 160-year-old ammunition was indeed live. They identified it as a Parrott round, a projectile commonly fired from cannons during the American Civil War. The explosive team safely transported the ordnance to an explosive range at Camp Bullis, where it was successfully disposed of without incident.

No injuries were reported, and no charges are pending in connection with the discovery. Parrott rounds were known for their effectiveness, particularly when used by Union forces. The discovery of unexploded wartime ordnance is not unprecedented, with similar finds occurring in Maryland and Canada in recent years, highlighting the enduring presence of historical munitions.

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The caller told deputies that he had owned the ordnance for years and had always thought it was a dummy round.