INDIRECT FIRE

[BOSTON]

Hancock the Superb wrote:

I would like to see it implimented, because during 1st Bull Run, Imboden's battery used indirect fire to hit Burnside's brigade advancing across the Mathews Hill, effectively halting their drive, and allowing enough time for the 4th Alabama, then the rest of Bee's brigade, to counter-attack and save Evans.

From what I've read, indirectfire was not that accurate, but could give your opponent a headache, for they could not fight what they (your target) could not see. Did Imboden use howitzers?

[Hancock the Superb]

It just so happens that Imboden's Staunton Artillery was the only well-trained Confederate artillery unit - and was using howitzers. Their first barage was so accurate that Burnside stopped his command, and let divisional artillery come up on the flanks (the Rhode Island Battery was already engaged on Mathews Hill). He had no idea where the artillery fire was coming from either, to add to the confusion. His delay allowed Evans to counter-attack and allow the 4th AL to march into position on Buck Hill, which may or may not have saved the Confederate Army (if Burnside got to Buck Hill before Bee did, he would meet Bee along the Warrenton Turnpike near the Stone House. With Burnside's large brigade (only the 2nd RI had seen any combat during the first hours of the battle), and Porter's brigade arriving in support, not to mention several regular artillery units with the division, it seems to me that Bee and Bartow would have been demolished in an open position, the Federals having the initiative, and a drive up Henry Hill doesn't seem out of the question.

[IronBMike]

Hancock the Superb wrote:

It just so happens that Imboden's Staunton Artillery was the only well-trained Confederate artillery unit - and was using howitzers. Their first barage was so accurate that Burnside stopped his command, and let divisional artillery come up on the flanks (the Rhode Island Battery was already engaged on Mathews Hill). He had no idea where the artillery fire was coming from either, to add to the confusion. His delay allowed Evans to counter-attack and allow the 4th AL to march into position on Buck Hill, which may or may not have saved the Confederate Army (if Burnside got to Buck Hill before Bee did, he would meet Bee along the Warrenton Turnpike near the Stone House. With Burnside's large brigade (only the 2nd RI had seen any combat during the first hours of the battle), and Porter's brigade arriving in support, not to mention several regular artillery units with the division, it seems to me that Bee and Bartow would have been demolished in an open position, the Federals having the initiative, and a drive up Henry Hill doesn't seem out of the question.

Pretty much how I see it. However, I'm still not certain that the Union would have been able to withstand a counterattack on Henry Hill, as much of the disorganization and loss of impetus came from the simple movement of the battle as much as it did from enemy forces. Possibly the Union troops would've been unable to hold the hill regardless.

[Hancock the Superb]

True, though, the whole scenario of this is that Imboden doesn't fire his guns at all...

All these what ifs!