Subdeacon Joe Posted January 31, 2017 Share Posted January 31, 2017 It turns out that artillery companies leave a lot of stuff on the battlefield after an engagement. For most units, commanders report soldiers killed and wounded. In artillery companies they also report their losses of horses. This is logical as artillery horses are the prime movers for an artillery battery. But the artillery even goes beyond that. We get a good idea of the kinds of equipment necessary to keep the artillery running from the reports of two Federal artillery commanders at Antietam. After detailing the movements of the battery for the month and the losses of men and horses, Stewart continues: “All axle strips of battery more or less broken occasioned by rapid firing and the uneven nature of the ground not having cannoneers sufficient to run the guns to more favorable positions. One limber disabled by cannon shot; 24 horses killed and 12 wounded; Required for use in the battery: 46 horses and 12 water buckets, 2 tar buckets, 1 sponge bucket, 60 blankets 50 curry combs, 50 horse brushes, 3 spare poles, 1 spare wheel and 6 to be exchanged; 6 picks and [illegible] 6 shovels, caisson, 4 hand spikes, trail, 4 sets lead harnesses, artillery, 2 near & 2 off; 15 wheel traces, 24 whips, 6 saddler's awls, and handlers, [illegible] lbs. square and flat iron, 25 head stalls and 4 bridles.” Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpo Posted January 31, 2017 Share Posted January 31, 2017 What would the tar be for? Thinl I understand the rest of the list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Widder, SASS #59054 Posted January 31, 2017 Share Posted January 31, 2017 No horse shoes? Maybe they took em off the dead horses and used as needed on the live ones. ..........WIdder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984 Posted January 31, 2017 Share Posted January 31, 2017 Noz was an Artillery Officer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sedalia Dave Posted January 31, 2017 Share Posted January 31, 2017 Noz was an Artillery Officer I have it on good authority that he did his apprenticeship on a trebuchet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdeacon Joe Posted January 31, 2017 Author Share Posted January 31, 2017 What would the tar be for? Thinl I understand the rest of the list. Also called a grease bucket. Wheels needed frequent applications of grease. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpo Posted January 31, 2017 Share Posted January 31, 2017 Grease I would have gotten. Tar, to me, means asphalt, which sets up hard. Not helpful for greasing wheels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noz Posted January 31, 2017 Share Posted January 31, 2017 Come on guys. Here finished a leisurely breakfast, read the paper and then here comes this thread. Yeah I was an Artillery man but that's a far cry from horse drawn. Everything on the list makes sense but the tar. I dunno? A thought. Maybe they used the tar to waterproof the fuse? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpo Posted January 31, 2017 Share Posted January 31, 2017 I thought, during the Big Fuss, the Yankees used friction igniters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JudgeBagodonuts Posted January 31, 2017 Share Posted January 31, 2017 Tar is also used as a hoof sealant for hoofs that have cracked. I believe it was pretty commonly used as a moisture repellent for ill-fitting horseshoes as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdeacon Joe Posted January 31, 2017 Author Share Posted January 31, 2017 I thought, during the Big Fuss, the Yankees used friction igniters. For the most part, for discharging the piece, yes. At sea I believe fuse and linstock were the rule - you didn't want that hot primer tube bouncing around on the lower gun decks. For exploding shells here were also timed plug fuses, contact fuses, various types of screwed in fuse (e.g. Borman fuse), both time and contact, even combination fuses that utilized a time fuse and a contact fuse in the same fuse body. The Tables of Fire that were on the inside of the lids of limber chests gave ranges, elevations, and time in flight. That way the boys at the limber chest (loading table) knew how to cut the fuse for timed fuses - couldn't very well use a contact fuse for the round shells from s smoothbore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.