Scourge of War Boards

Last thing I want to do is be a complainer or bitch because I certainly don't have enough knowledge to be either. But, something just doesn't feel right about Artillery and I would like to some on this forum who is knowlegable of the CW era to tell me if it is in fact accurate. If it's not I am afraid that I may lose interest and stop playing. I actually quit today out of frustration. Here are two different things that happened today:

First in the Devels den scenario as the CSA. The battle tide was turning in my favor after I ran the Union out of devils den. Anderson along with help from Kershaw had knocked the enemy back on my left leaving the wheat field open for occupation and I of course need the points. I ordered Benning with 4 fairly fresh regiment to move to the wheat field which he does. I at the time didn't notice the two union cannon on the road at the north edge of the wheat field. The engagement began and the two cannon with their 30 men succesfully ran off and routed all of Bennings regiments. When the scenario ended shortly there after with my resounding loss, I wasn't able to find the two NJ batteries to see their statistics. Thats when I quit and started playing Actung Panzer.

Later, Played the scenario with Corp commander Scharz. As it begins Barlow is holding Blochers Knob and is being attacked by Early I think. He has there battery G of the 4th US artillery so I ride over to watch the action. Fifteen minutes into the engagement here were the stats:
Gun #1 9 lost 24 killed Routed
Gun #2 0 lost 69 killed Retreating
Gun #3 0 lost 10 killed Engaged and exausted
Gun #4 6 lost 58 killed Engaged and exausted
Gun #5 0 lost 50 killed Captured
Gun #6 9 lost 8 killed Routed
TOTAL 24 lost 219 killed

A short while later Blochers Knob was lost and here was the final stats for thae battery at that point:
Gun #1 9 lost 24 killed Routed
Gun #2 0 lost 69 killed Engaged
Gun #3 9 lost 135 killed Routed
Gun #4 9 lost 58 killed Routed
Gun #5 0 lost 50 killed Captured
Gun #6 9 lost 8 killed Routed
TOTAL 36 lost 344 killed

I saved about thirty minutes into the battle with enough points to win and the artillery was certainly the reason not only because of the points they earned in the slaughter but because they held off the CSA attack on the right flank long enough for Barlow to gather in all the points for holding Blochers Knob.

Is this really the way fighting occured during the CW?
What is majic about 9 men lost? Is this when the guns rout?

Good question! While I don't have the "game" answer, a check of the wartime manuals notes that the actual gun crew was composed of 8 cannoneers and a gunner. Further, the drivers for the gun/limber and caisson/limber numbered six, totaling 15.

Interestingly, the manul provides instructions for firing the gun with "diminished numbers" whereby as little as 2 men could successfully, but slowly, fire the gun.

According to a well-known author, "In actual combat, crews were replenished from ANY nearby units, including, on at least one occasion, a passing general and his staff."

J.

Kerflumoxed wrote:

Good question! While I don't have the "game" answer, a check of the wartime manuals notes that the actual gun crew was composed of 8 cannoneers and a gunner. Further, the drivers for the gun/limber and caisson/limber numbered six, totaling 15.

Interestingly, the manul provides instructions for firing the gun with "diminised numbers" whereby as little as 2 men could successfully, but slowly, fire the gun.

According to a well-known author, "In actual combat, crews were replenished from ANY nearby units, including, on at least one occasion, a passing general and his staff."

J.

J, you are still thorough as ever! However, at the moment it's not going to fly with any units getting replenishments of troops IMO, but I think artillery ought to be a good place to start a feature like that.

BOSTON

Artillery is very dangerous. It can cause lots of casualties very quickly. You must always be aware of them and have a plan to get to them quick. Two cannons decimating an entire brigade would never had happened in the Civil War. Most likely the guns without infantry support would have gotten out. If they stayed, a whole brigade would have easily shot them down or charged and captured them. Artillery could turn back infantry, but not 2 cannons alone. With Barlow those number seem realistic. If you were the one attacking you would of paid more attention to the cannons and made sure to get at them quicker.