Artillery on Lee's Hill

On Lee's Hill and nearby hills, Confederates concentrated powerful artillery that delivered devastating frontal and enfilading crossfire against Federal attacks on December 13, 1862. Long-range rifles on Lee's Hill joined this fire, while bronze 12-pounder smoothbores called Napoleons, though less accurate than rifled cannon, remained the war's standard field piece because they were sturdy, dependable, and effective to about a mile. Bronze 12-pounder howitzers lobbed explosive shells on a higher curve than Napoleons, making them especially useful among hills and valleys. Solid shot and explosive shells were deadly against massed troops at long range, canister often broke infantry charges, and rifled cannon fired many kinds of shot and shell. Spiral rifling inside small iron 3-inch rifles made their projectiles spin for greater speed and accuracy. Two 30-pounder Parrott siege guns, the largest Confederate guns on the field, were placed here and on Howison's Hill after Burnside's delay allowed them to be brought from Richmond by rail. One exploded on its 39th firing and was replaced by a smaller Parrott, while Lee, Longstreet, other officers, and the gun crew escaped injury. The Confederates also used captured Parrotts and manufactured guns on the same principle at the Tredegar Iron Works in Richmond. While the smaller Parrott filled the gap, a Whitworth rifle was being brought in, but it did not arrive until dark; this English-made breechloader could hurl its 12-pound bolt three miles.

Fredericksburg, Virginia · United States