Civil War Cannon Accuracy...

Re: Civil War Cannon Accuracy...

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Cegorach</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What kind of projectile were the smoothbores shooting? </div></div>

It varies but nearly all smoothbore artillery pieces shoot round shot and shell plus canister which looks much like a coffee can on a wooden sabot for a bottom... filled with ~1" iron or lead balls. Canister functions much like a shotgun blast for close range (think:beehive), solid shot is just that, solid lead or iron balls used for all purposes but especially handy for structures and barricades... shell is either a hollow iron round shot fused with a time fuse that explodes into shrapnel when the bursting charge inside goes off... or a hollow iron shot filled with .58 caliber lead balls and the bursting charge for added effect. The solid shot projectile of the brass M1857 Napoleon or the Tredegar Iron Works Napoleon (Confederate iron counterpart), which were called "12-pounders) weighed 12 lbs and was 4.52" in diameter.

Rifled guns shot similar style projectiles but they were called a "bolt" and were oblong and much like the projectiles we have today in form. They generally were much smaller bore... the most popular was the 3" Ordnance Rifle. A good cannoneer could shoot these like a rifle to great distances... many instances exsist where cannon crews engaged single human or hard targets at ranges out to and well over 1200 yards and hit them with one shot.

The pics below are a Union 6-pound (3.58") Napoleon and Limber. The 12-pounder had a larger bore.




This is a 12-pound Confederate Howitzer (short barrel often used by Cavalry and preferred for high angle projectile needs when mortars weren't handy).



This is Private Parallax, Co A, 6th Wisconsin Infantry ... One of "... those damned black hats..." of the Iron Brigade.



Interestingly, the beloved artillery battery attached to the Iron Brigade was Battery B, 4th US Artillery. It was crewed with men detached from the Iron Brigade's Infantry Regiments who joined the few Regulars who made up the "peace time" battery. Their nick-name was "Bloody B" ... they had a high casualty rate and were always in the front with the Infantry delivering canister unlike many of their counterparts who often set-up behind the lines. The infantrymen in the Iron Brigade, being wise-asses and generally more accurate called them "The 140 Thieves".

Re: Civil War Cannon Accuracy...

The Paulson brothers are great guys. They restore cannon for the NPS and have the only up to date registry of antique cannon in the Country. They are noted for their live fire exhibitions. They once had a direct fire competition with a modern 105mm crew. They used an original M1857 12lb Napoleon, both shooting at an old M114 on the range at about 2300 yards. They got on target first and hit the target dead on with their first shot. They also have fired an original 13" Dictator seige mortar at Ft Snelling in Minnesota on occasion. It had been found buried in the mud somewhere around Vicksburg in the mid 1980's IIRC. They lecture at West Point on occasion... both are getting on in age.

They make the finest restoration hardware (cannon carriage, caissons, limbers etc.) in the buisness.

Re: Civil War Cannon Accuracy...

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Ramrod14(winkie)</div><div class="ubbcode-body">And Pallarax you forgot to mention the most damaging form of shot fired by smoothbore cannons. It was called Grapeshot,... </div></div>

Grapeshot was indeed used, but it was mainly a nautical thing. The most effective anti-personnel round at close range was cannister. 1" steel and/or sometimes lead shot contained in a projectile that looked like a large coffe can with a wooden base and powder sack attached to the bottom. After leaving the muzzle the can peeled back like a shotgun wad... used somewhat like beehive. Given the linear tactics and formations of the day it was very effective. Two or three cannister rounds could be stacked for more serious (re:desperate) effect... several Confederate Companies ceased to exist at the fence line when struck by double charged cannister during Pickett's Charge at Gettysberg.

Re: Civil War Cannon Accuracy...

An interesting side note in Wisconsin Civil War history you will never find in a text book... starting in April of 1861 when States were sending the "three month Regiments" to the defense of Washington there were several groups of Indians here who, along with some "half-breed" French and English trappers, arrived in Madison and attempted to enlist. The Governor sent word to Washington but received a terse reply that no Indians would be allowed in the Army. In fact, from the start of the War until October 1863 it was illegal to enlist an Indian or for one to serve. Interestingly many from Wisconsin did serve... some were disovered and sent home by Federal authorities only to return and serve throughout the War as civilian "scouts" being paid by the men of the Company they served in. Further... many others served prior to 1861 with their race indicated as "French-Canadian" to get around the prohibition of their enlistment.

Now the Irish twist... A group of 30-40 braves and a white friend made a second trip to Madison's Camp Randall, where most Wisconsin Regiments were formed.initially trained and mustered. They made a plea to the Governor to allow them to enlist. The Governor finally told them that they could serve "if" they could find a Regiment and Company that would take them. They went to Camp Randall and made the rounds of the Regiments forming and were rebuffed.... by all but one. They ended up talking to the Colonel John Doran of the 17th Wisconsin...aka as the Wisconsin Irish Brigade which was made up entirely of Irishmen, mostly tough loggers, Great Lakes sailors and lead miners. After hearing their plea the Colonel reportedly said.... "Shur'n there's no race of man more downtrodden then the Irish but ye, so you boys come along with us."

This explains the Menomonie Indians who served in Comoany K, 17th Wis Vol Inf from March 1862 to Wars end... mostly with fake names.