Rifle-Musket

American Firepower and Tactics
1861-1865

Artillery Battery

By Ed McDonald
Wayne Praeder
Mike Bianchi-Rossi
Soldier figure drawings by E. Schweig

Below is a typical battery of the Union armies. On paper batteries were to contain six guns, twelve limber, six caissons, a battery wagon, a travelling forge, 110 horses, 150 men, and five officers. The battery was divided equally into two or three parts referred to as half batteries and sections, respecavely. A captain usually commanded a battery with his lieutenants commanding the sections. Confederate batteries usually consisted of four guns with a proportionate reduction in equipment and personnel. Horse artillery or "flying" artillery was organized the same with an additional twelve horses per piece to mount all gunners, and two extra cannoneers to hold the horses.

The battery is deployed for action along an 82-yard front to a depth of 30 yards: A) Guns with crew; B) Limber chests with teams (each limber and each caisson for 12-pounders carried 25 solid shot, 20 spherical case, and 5 canisters); C) Caissons with teams; D) Captain commanding.

In case the battery was being pressed by an overwhelming force, the gunners would tie a rope to the limber and attach it to the gun. As the team pulled the gun away, its crew would fire it, recoil moving the gun to the rear. Other withdrawing tactics were to retire two sections while being covered by the third.

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© Copyright 1974 by Dana Lombardy
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