Civil War Artillery

Artillery played a pivotal role in the Battle of Parker's Crossroads. The Confederates used two 6-pounder smoothbores, two 12-pounder howitzers, two 12-pounder mountain howitzers, and two three-inch ordnance rifles to deadly effect, while Union troops had only three guns of unknown type, which were disabled early in the battle. Civil War artillery had an impressive range, with solid shot generally traveling farther than canister from the same gun, and both were deadly. A 6-pounder bronze smoothbore firing a 6-pound ball could reach 1,523 yards, a 12-pounder howitzer firing a 12-pound ball 1,072 yards, a 12-pounder mountain howitzer firing a 9-pound ball 900 yards, and a 3-inch ordnance rifle firing an 8- or 9-pound shell 1,835 yards. Firing an artillery piece required a carefully choreographed sequence of loading, readying, and firing, with each crewman assigned specific tasks from clearing the vent and sponging the tube to ramming the projectile, sighting the piece, priming it, pulling the lanyard, and returning the gun to battery. Because artillery was such a powerful weapon, enemy forces often targeted gun crews to disable it, and manuals even included instructions for operating guns with diminished crews, ending with service by two men.

Parker's Crossroads, Tennessee · United States