Henry Shrapnel lived in 1842

According to the Oxford Dictionary, Colonel Henry Shrapnel developed his technique in 1842 in the British Army. Although the American term would MORE LIKELY have been 'grapeshot', the word 'shrapnel' did exist at that time.

Actually..........

Shrapnel WAS around by the time of the American Civil War and it WAS in the language. The word derives itself from an invention by a British Colonel during the war against Napolean in the Iberian Peninsula. It was a small ball, much like a mountain howitzer cannonball, that had a small fuse attached to it. The length of the fuse was determined by the proximity of the enemy. Inside of the ball were small pieces of metal that, once fired from the cannon, would explode over the enemys' head, spreading death and destruction. The name of this Colonel??! Colonel Shrapnel!! Oh, and by the way, General Longstreet does not talk to a reporter but to his scout, Harrison who is an actor by profession.

Yes, it was

It is true the word shrapnel was in the language during the civil in 1863. I found it in The New Illustrated Webster's Dictionary of the English Language copyright 1992. The word came from Henry Shrapnel, 1761-1842, a British artillery officer.