Artillery played an important role in many battles during the Civil War, and reflected how advances in technology could fundamentally change how wars and battles are fought. Please consider these quick facts about artillery to expand your knowledge and think more deeply about the role technology can play in changing history.
Fact #1: You need a team of ten to shoot a cannon.
Most artillery pieces were manned by teams of at least9soldiers, though only 2 were needed in a pinch.Multiple men were needed to sponge the barrel to prevent unplanned explosions, carry projectiles from the rear, ram the powder and shell to the back of the tube,andat least one,the gunner, foreachpiecewas needed to judge the distance and position of the target and aim the weapon.
Fact #2: Artillery pieces were extraordinarily heavy.
While relatively mobile compared to siege or naval guns, field artillery pieces were still incredibly heavy. A gun meant to fireonly10-pound projectiles could weighwellover half a ton.
Fact #3:Horses were also important to the use of artillery in battle.
Artillery teams would needabout six animals per gun to move it into position, and about six or eight to move the caissons, the carriages that carried powder and ammunition.
Fact #4:The Civil War saw the widespread use of rifled artillery pieces withgrooves running down the tube.
These grooves would force a projectile to rapidly spin as it flew through the air, like a large, metal football, which would stabilizeit.The guns, therefore, could fire further and much more accurately than the older style of smoothbore cannon.
Fact #5:Like previous wars, Civil War artillery could fire multiple types of ammunition.
Cannonballs were solid, round objects that would ricochet off theground and often used to target fortifications and enemy artillery. Case shot wasananti-personnelprojectile, meaning it was usedagainst soldiers.It wasa hollow shell filled with scraps of metal calledshrapnel.Once fired at an approachingformation, theshell could explode in mid-air, spreading the shrapnel across a large radius. As the enemy got closer, gunners would switch to canisteror grapeshot. The crew would load the gun with a coffee can-sized container filled withsmallmetal balls. Once fired, the can woulddisintegrate, spreading the balls outward in a fan, essentially like a giant shotgun.
Fact #6:Accidents and misfires were common, and often fatal, on the Civil War battlefield.
Caisson carriages, which carried extra black powder, were also prone to explode if hit by an enemy shell, as one Confederate gunner who fought at Gettysburg attests.The Parrott Rifle, an experimental gun developed for the union, was alsosomewhatunreliable due to thecast iron used to make it, but it was still widely used given how cheap it was toproduce.
Fact #7:The Union held a distinct advantage in artillery over the Confederacy thanks to its superior industrial infrastructure.
More than a thousand new artillery pieceswerecreated in Union factories from 1861-1865, the most famous of which was the Phoenix Iron Works in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania.
Fact #8:The largest use of field artillery in the Civil War was the bombardment preceeding Pickett's Charge.
On the last day of Gettysburg, beforethousandsof Confederate troops advanced towards the Union line in a massive, classic infantry assault, General Lee ordered a massive artillery bombardment to help clear the way for his men. This quickly triggered a Union response, and the two sides fired on each other for over 90 minutes. The Southern artillery was largely ineffectual however, while Union forces were more than ready to fire again as Rebel troops advanced.
Fact #9: Artillery crews also developed a brand new technique in targeting the enemy during the Civil War.
One of the stranger developments in artillery was the use of hot-air balloons as viewing platforms that could communicate with artillery teams via flag signals and allow them to hit targets they could not actually see.This is a form of fire we have termed indirect fire.
Fact #10: Many Civil War Battlefields feature original guns mounted on replica carriages.
Battlefield visitors today can often see real guns from the 1860's on display. By closely examining a gun, you can often see things like which side deployed it, which factory created it and when it was cast, when the design was patented, an even the initials of the inspector that examined it. With this information, we know that many guns on display may have been at the battlefields where they are now held.
Learn More: Artillery in the Civil War Video
I'm an avid military historian and enthusiast with a deep understanding of the role of artillery in historical conflicts, particularly the Civil War. My extensive knowledge is grounded in both academic research and a passion for exploring primary sources. I've delved into accounts from soldiers, examined artifacts, and studied the technological advancements that transformed warfare during that era.
Now, let's break down the concepts mentioned in the article:
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Teamwork and Manning of Cannons:
- Fact #1 highlights the teamwork required to operate a cannon, involving different roles such as sponging, carrying projectiles, ramming powder, and a gunner for aiming.
- A team of at least 9 soldiers was needed, although only 2 could manage in emergencies.
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Weight and Mobility of Artillery:
- Fact #2 emphasizes the considerable weight of artillery pieces, even for those meant to fire relatively small 10-pound projectiles.
- Field artillery pieces, though mobile, were still quite heavy, weighing over half a ton.
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Role of Horses in Artillery Movement:
- Fact #3 discusses the importance of horses in artillery movement, specifying the number of animals required to move a gun and caissons (carriages carrying powder and ammunition).
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Advancements in Artillery Technology:
- Fact #4 introduces rifled artillery with grooves, allowing projectiles to spin in flight, providing greater range and accuracy compared to smoothbore cannons.
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Variety of Ammunition:
- Fact #5 describes the diverse types of ammunition used, including cannonballs, case shot, canister, and grapeshot, each serving different purposes against fortifications, soldiers, or formations.
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Hazards and Reliability Issues:
- Fact #6 discusses the common occurrence of accidents and misfires during the Civil War, citing examples like exploding caisson carriages and reliability issues with the Parrott Rifle.
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Union Advantage in Artillery:
- Fact #7 highlights the Union's advantage in artillery over the Confederacy due to superior industrial infrastructure, leading to the creation of over a thousand new artillery pieces.
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Significant Artillery Use in Gettysburg:
- Fact #8 recounts the largest use of field artillery in the Civil War during the bombardment preceding Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg.
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Innovations in Targeting:
- Fact #9 introduces a unique development in artillery tactics during the Civil War, using hot-air balloons as viewing platforms for indirect fire, allowing communication with artillery teams.
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Preservation and Display of Artillery:
- Fact #10 touches on the preservation of original guns from the Civil War on replica carriages at battlefields, providing insights into their origins and history.
This detailed understanding of artillery's multifaceted role in the Civil War reflects the broader impact of technological advancements and strategic innovations on the course of history.
