Civil War artillery batteries required far more than guns alone. At battles including Parker's Crossroads, a six-gun battery involved about 150 men, 110 horses and mules, and hundreds of pieces of equipment. A captain commanded the battery, assisted by four lieutenants, two staff sergeants, five mechanics, two blacksmiths, two buglers, and a standard bearer. Each gun had a gunner, usually a sergeant, seven artillerists, and at least two horseholders, while nearly 70 drivers handled the teams that pulled caissons, limbers, supply wagons, and the traveling forge. A full battery usually had six guns, though four-gun batteries were also common, especially in the Confederacy. Common field pieces included the 3-inch ordnance rifle, the 10-pounder Parrott field rifle, and the 12-pounder Napoleon, while early in the war 6-pounder bronze field guns and 12-pounder howitzers were common. The Parrotts and 3-inch ordnance rifles could fire more than a mile, while the smoothbore Napoleon had a shorter range of .92 mile but was more effective with canister. On the march, each gun was attached to a limber carrying ammunition, primers, fuses, a tar bucket, canvas water buckets, and a tarpaulin. Each gun also had at least two caissons carrying more ammunition chests, axes, and a spare wheel and pole. Horses were essential, since four- or six-horse teams pulled each caisson, each gun and limber, the battery wagon, the forge, and additional wagons, while officers and horse artillery artillerists also rode them and ten or more spare horses were necessary. Without horses, the guns could not move, and both animals and guns became targets in combat. The battery wagon carried more than 125 kinds of supplies for maintenance and repair, along with forage, while the traveling forge and its limber carried smiths' tools, spare hardware, nails, and 200 pounds of horseshoes, and extra wagons might carry additional fodder and supplies.

Photo: Shane Oliver

Photo: Shane Oliver

Parker's Crossroads, Tennessee · USA