Scourge of War Boards

Something like that happened to me once with a firework but my back wasn't as lucky as theres. :laugh:

As I spent part of last evening re-reading the January, 1900, issue of Confederate Veteran, I noted an interesting human interest story regarding artillery losses, including both men and horses, in one battery at GB.

"To Colonel John Thompson Brown's batteries must be accorded the highest honors of that first day at Gettysburg. They fought, they suffered, they triumphed. As an evidence of the heat of the conflict, I mention that one battery (Page's, of Hanover), fighting infantry at close range, lost thirty-three men and seventeen horses. On of the cannoneers was wounded to death with twenty-three musket balls in his body. This was private Ben H. Stone. In the lull of battle he was decently buried, and his remains were subsequently removed to his old home at Ashland, Va."

(Col. Brown was in command of the Artillery Reserve of Ewell's 2nd Corps. However, Page's Battery shows up as Morris (Virginia) Artillery, Capt. R. C. M. Page, in Rode's Division. The author of the account, S. H. Pendleton, was writing in remembrance of Col. Brown who was KIA on 6 May 1864.)

The artillery of Rode's Brigade was under the command of Lieut. Col. Thomas H. Carter
and consisted 16 guns and 385 men. Morris (Virginia) Artillery, Capt. R. C. M. Page was armed with 4-12 pdr Napoleons. Although most guns were supposed to be pulled with a six-horse hitch, in many cases a four-horse hitch was more common. If we presume 6-horse hitches were used on the heavy Naps, then there would have been a total of 24 horses pulling the four-gun battery. Seventeen horses were killed in this battery in the action described by Pendleton. This is a loss of 71% in the four gun battery. While there is no distinction between the guns and the supporting caissons, it would appear from the cursory reading that Pendleton was probably referring to the guns and their limbers only.

According to Gilham, there were to be 9 men in the gun crew (including 8 men and the gunner who was a Corporal). There was prescribed interval between the end of the gun crew and the limber: in detail, the gun and crew were figured at 5 yards; the distance between the gunner at the end of the trail and the lead horse of the limber six-horse hitch was 6 yards; the rear of the limber was 17 yards from the gunner. Another 11 yards behind the limber was the lead horses of the caisson. The prescribed distance between the guns was 14 yards. Theory would dictate that if no immediate movement was planned, the horses would be unhitched from the limber and held close by under sheltered. Sketches and narrations show batteries with every horse dead as a result of "penetrating fire."

Would it be possible, because of the close proximity of the gun to limber, to show dead horses on the field as well as limiting the withdrawal of a gun? Would it be possible to show the caissons as well? (For what it is worth, when the limber chest of the gun was empty, it was swapped for a full one from the caisson.)

I presume that the amount of ammuntion available in TC2M includes the rounds of the caisson and the gun limber. For example, a six pounder carried 50 rounds in the limber and another 150 rounds in the caisson/limber. The 12 pounder howitzer carried 32 rounds in the limber and 96 rounds in the cassion/limber. I think someone already mentioned the possibility of having a limber and/or a caisson hit by enemy fire. Is that possible?

When the cannoneers were mounted, there were three abreast on the limbers with 3 men on the gun limber and 6 men on the caisson/limber. Not knowing the limitations of game design, sure if these numbers can replicated (as well as the number of horses necessary).

Sorry to have been so long-winded!

Jack Hanger
Fremont, NE

One more question: Has any consideration been given to utilizing the Prolonge to retire (most common) or advance? Both situations were utilized during the war.

Incidentally, this is different then retiring by recoil as retiring by Prolonge entails the continued loading of the piece while it is being withdrawn, halting at the command "Halt" to aim and fire.

Thanks!

Jack Hanger
Fremont, NE

"Boys, if we have to stand in a straight line as stationary targets for the Yankees to shoot at with a rest, this old Texas Brigade is going to run like Hell!" J.B. Polley, 5th Texas Infantry, Hood's Texas Brigade

One more request (in addition to a possible increased firing rate & a shortened time span required to limber or unlimber the piece) for the benefit of the artillery, as well as historical precedent/accuracy! :cheer:

The organization of the field artillery, as I know you are well aware, divided each battery into 2-gun sections with each commanded by a Lt. (Right Section - First in Rank Lt.; Left Section - 2nd in Rank Lt; - Centre Section, if applicable -3rd in Rank Lt.) Of course, the sections of the battery were traditionally under the command of a Captain. (I presume that the addition of a "Looie" to each section would only "clutter up" the game and add little to it's value...much like having a complete set of couriers accompanying each CO.)

In the current TC2M, the complete battery may advance "on the Commander" or each piece (gun) may be individually advanced. There is, however, another historical alternative that was available and practiced: 1."Fire advancing - by half battery. 2.Right (or Left) half-battery - ADVANCE." (This same procedure could also be utilized to fire in retreat, replacing the command to "RETIRE.") Gilham states that, "This movement could also be executed by sections; the sections advancing in succession according to their positions in the battery." As is currently practiced in TC2M, while advancing by half-battery, the battery commander "places himself habitually with the most advanced portion of the battery..."

If this historical method of advancing/retiring the artillery were to be added, I believe this would enhance the playability of the game. Would it be possible to include this "command" on the Artillery button-panel...something similar to the current key that aligns the entire battery on the commander? :unsure:

Thanks for consideration.

We do have a new feature where a two gun section of artillery may be detached from a battery of four or more guns. The section has it's own CO for as long as it is an independent command. The section CO has all of the command capabilities as the official battery commander.

-Jim

Jim wrote:

We do have a new feature where a two gun section of artillery may be detached from a battery of four or more guns. The section has it's own CO for as long as it is an independent command. The section CO has all of the command capabilities as the official battery commander.

-Jim

Thanks for response, Jim. As always, you folks are way ahead of me. This is a great addition and will add another historical demension to the game!

Now, I anxiously await the Team's view of loading and limbering/unlimbering time requirements! :ohmy:

THIS IS GOING TO BE GREAT!!! :woohoo:

Makes me more and more curious what other surprises await us.

The scary thing is that this entire thing is brand new, and it's going to be impossible to document all the differences between this and tc. So you'll have to find them and remind us

There is a magazine dedicated to Civil War artillery titled The Artilleryman. Here is a link to an article published a few years back briefly describing the bombardment prior to Pickett's Charge by an eyewitness:

http://artillerymanmagazine.com/Archive ... s_f98.html

Hope you find it enjoyable!

norb wrote:

The scary thing is that this entire thing is brand new, and it's going to be impossible to document all the differences between this and tc. So you'll have to find them and remind us

...and this will result in a new "learning curve" to be mastered...which will entail horrendous amounts of study time, especially for the members of the O.F.F. Club! Thank goodness there are many on this list who are willing to assist the "fresh fish" just as the veterans did in 1861-5! (Did I mention that I am Computer Illiterate?) :blink: