The Science of Civil War Artillery

Historians from the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources and North Carolina State Parks discuss the history and science behind Civil War cannon fire.

[@DIGITAL_DECAY.EXE_]

As an artillery vet it blows my mind how far we've come in less than 200 years. It will be truly terrifying where we will be in the future.

[@iamAwesomo1994]

for the enemy, lol. hopefully not us but I don't like where we're going.

[@la-li-lu-le-lo9444]

​@@iamAwesomo1994hopefully the enemy is even still human at that point...

[@dinahnicest6525]

At this rate, there won't be a future.

[@ferrari884]

"I'm the #7 man. I open and close a case,"

[@tomservo5347]

It was broken down into the simplest motions. Each man was drilled, drilled, and drilled some more until he could do his job while sleeping and fill in the other roles. Battles aren't kind to the human body and mind and the idea was that if you drilled soldiers incessantly their jobs became second nature and they could perform while under extreme duress. Try doing this under counter battery fire, enemy infantry advancing to less than 50 yards away, sharpshooters picking off your crew one by one and you can't leave or take cover but must stay put, load and fire that cannon until your orders change.

[@TheFearDasTier]

@@tomservo5347 well spoken

[@ace50cal1]

@@tomservo5347 i served as a mortarman in the us armys infantry. You are dead nuts correct. Everyone on crew has a specific job...for a specific reason...my team got so good we got shells out in a minute and a half...and you get that good by drilling over and over until you cant fuck it up.

[@tomservo5347]

@@ace50cal1 Hey-I'm an old 12B combat engineer and we did the same incessant drills with mines, explosives, and other equipment. I've read many books on the Civil War, and the cannon crews were every bit as brave as the infantryman. During one battle, there wasn't any infantry available so they used a battery of artillery to stop an infantry charge using double loads of canister. The gunners fought hand to hand with their rammers and spikes, got totally wrecked in the process, but they bought enough time for the infantry to arrive. Many times (like at Antietam) the gun crews took so many casualties a commanding general (Longstreet in this case) got off his horse and helped man the guns. The Confederates lost so many guns to excellently managed Union artillery they had a rear area set up to try and cobble wrecked caissons and limbers back together to get back in the fight.

[@ace50cal1]

@@tomservo5347 very intresting. I love the history of our great nation. Thanks for that info. Good stuff

[@Gundog55]

During the battle of Antitum they grabbed a guy off the line and asked for “Double grapeshot” only he didn’t tear off the powder charge on the second charge causing the cannon to buck out of battery. They fired several shots like that before they figured out what was going on. The 1857 Napoleon was such a sturdy design it resulted in no damage to the gun.

[@happyhome41]

Wow ! How well this nine-year video has aged ! Remarkable design, participants, and video. THANK YOU ! I remember reading about Gettysburg, and Gen Lee watching with disappointment -- his promising young lieutenant gunner, afraid of hurting own troops, was firing high and ineffectually against the Union on the high ground across the way.

[@charlesshaughnessy1105]

Wow! What dedication, knowledge, and experience your team brings. Not to mention enthusiasm. An outstanding presentation. NC is really a powerhouse.

[@Jreb1865]

North Carolina was a powerhouse during The War Between the States as well...

[@stephensands3485]

Thank you guys so much for taking the time to make this video! It was extremely informative. I was reading Empire of the Summer Moon (a history of the Comanche tribe’s battles with the whites, great read) recently and wanted to learn some more about the Civil War era artillery used against the Indians. Fun fact, the Indians were terrified of the case shot/shells and the deadly effects it had when fired into a large group of mounted Comanches. They referred to the Howitzers with case shot as “the gun that fired twice.”

[@Ccccccccccsssssssssss]

This was really great! Thank you so much to everyone who was a part of making this!!!

[@daviddugan2172]

My Great-Great-Great Grandfather, George A. Dugan, died from a rifle shot to the chest on the 21st during the Bentonville Battle. I need to visit the site soon.

[@wesleydaub8002]

As a decendant of an artillery man who served in the German Artillery of South Carolina, it was an absolute pleasure to watch how Confederate artillery crews operated on the battlefield.

[@tuckermoreland8019]

hats off to the crew who kept in place thru the discourse. well done all.....

[@thinkmapp]

Great show. The whole thing was riveting. A pleasure to watch although the thought of just how deadly the guns were/are is unsettling. You are truly dedicated historians.

[@ncculture]

+Louis Daly Thanks! If you're interested in the Civil War, you might want to check out the webcasts we did on period uniforms and flags. kzbin.info/www/bejne/gqrWpmypjrWmj6c kzbin.info/www/bejne/fH2on2eQjLiYhbc

[@thinkmapp]

I'll have a look - the cannon presentation is quite special. Thanks.

[@JohnnyReb]

Well done! Well done! You guys did an awesome job!

[@SStupendous]

They sure did, hello again.

[@CoreDian]

fantastic broadcast. thank you.

[@paper____]

One Mistake . Putting your thumb over the Fues hole was not to prevent oxygen from getting in the barrel. The barrel is very thick. If the hole is not plugged with a thumb a hot ember could get up inside the hole as the air is pushed out when the damp swab is pushed down the barrel. Then when you put the prick pin in , it could push the hot ember into the powder charge. The thumb prevented a hot ember from being pushed up inside the hole.

[@denniskalivoda]

This was well done, great to hear from such knowledgeable individuals who have spent many hours studying history. It was interesting to understand the importance of the black power used to set these cannons off. You all have spent many hours studying history and presenting it to us, thanks.

[@aerofpv2109]

I thought it was simpler to load a canon but safety is paramount. Great dance guys. I truly enjoyed this.

[@tomtonkyro7209]

Excellent video. For the ultimate in realism, imagine the cannoneers 30 years younger, 60 lbs lighter, the powder charges a lot bigger and the uniforms and equipment a lot dirtier. Add in dozens of horses and fogbanks of smoke. And men and horses screaming in pain with blood, brains and intestines sprayed on the grass. That's just for this one gun of course.

[@tomservo5347]

I was always amazed at the post-battle photographs of Matthew Brady, Alexander Gardner, and Timothy O'Sullivan. After the dead were buried the poor dead horses were usually burned or just left to rot. The best horses went to the cavalry, the 2nd rate ones went to serve pulling artillery to which the gunners bonded with. Gunners observed a 'pink mist' mixed in with the huge dust cloud that completely covered up Pickett's men with body parts tossed into the air overhead and a huge moan they heard over the roar of battle.

[@fledge2b807]

Tom Servo l

[@tomservo5347]

@Mississippi Ditch Fisher It shows good leadership of officers leading from the front to persuade men to follow them to certain destruction. Pickett's Charge took a terrific toll on Lee's officer corps-leading from the front with their men.

[@maxmccullough8548]

8 horses per gun, so 16 not dozens unless you're assuming they're warding off a calvery charge.

[@rebelsoul5980]

​@@tomservo5347 the loss of Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson was the true turning point of the war. He was Lee's right hand man, I don't think Gettysburg would have happened if Jackson was alive! Jackson would have talked sense into Lee and held a stance to remain a defensive Army!

[@jeffcamp481]

Awesome job by everyone! I totally enjoyed the presentation! Learned a lot! Thank you!

[@cleverusername9369]

"Do not try this at home" Well, what am I supposed to do with the 3 inch ordnance rifle on my studio apartment balcony now??

[@ronhunter2054]

Well done, very educational demonstration of the proper procedure to fire both guns - although the one thing that happens all the time is that you are missing the proper military black-powder loads, whereas in applied to actual combat mode the powder charge would be significantly higher to the degree whereas the artillery piece would recoil back 6 to 8 feet.

[@thalesmiletus8204]

Yes - kzbin.infoPIRGfh0D-IU?si=veWD2US6u9sz2m55

[@thalesmiletus8204]

Canister: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oWmZiZuPiJ16gKs

[@richardrichards5982]

Really good presentation. Many thanks to you all.

[@dcar335i]

great information! thanks for your dedication and bringing an important piece of history to us

[@mickwindle7723]

Thank you, Its committed people like these that keep history alive. Very informative.

[@MikeAlphabet]

Well done! This is one of the best demos I've seen on Civil War artillery. The video was informative, engaging, and well-produced. Thank you!

[@andrewg7878]

Thanks for the quick history lesson, very well put together to great effect

[@keithbrown2458]

Wonderful video very well done gentlemen thank you so much what a great bunch of guys

[@mickeyrubicon]

beautiful and deeply educational presentation, thank you for your dedicated service to our land

[@badmonkeyspilljuice]

This is why I love KZbin. What a great video.

[@axeaddiction796]

what a great informative video. Thank you!

[@brianfuller7691]

In fact, the more heavily industrialised economy of the North would insure Northern superiority in artillery throughout the War. The War would demonstrate the ability of artillery to control a battlefield and reduce fortifications. Both the US military and the European observers paid attention. In the Franco-Prussion War, the German artillery dominance was clear, while most of the French artillery was obsolete. Great video

[@ScarecrowActual]

My great, great, great grandpa was a Gunner in 5th Virginia Heavy Artillery, and was present at Appomattox at the end of the war. Seeing this in a way was very surreal, and very enjoyable. What'd I'd give to have a conversation with that man lol. Now I understand why my reenactor buddies enjoy it so much. Damn near a decade late, but thanks for the video, even if I am this late lol.

[@reddevilparatrooper]

Outstanding presentation!!

[@jimg691]

Fantastic video, thank you!

[@jp040759]

Excellent!!!!!!!. Great vid. Thank you.

[@provost5752]

Great video. Thanks guys

[@tedzabel3997]

Very informative, thank you!

[@model-man7802]

Outstanding guys!!!!

[@DBLAPX]

Amazing video., I’ve learned so much. Thank You!

[@sneakyredneck2059]

Well I built my own little cannon at home and want to try this out. I guess they were talking to me. This is a great video and exactly what I was looking for. I wish the had more about fuses

[@darecofreedomfarm3]

i use 209 shotgun primers with mine. Cheaper than friction primers by a factor of 10

[@williamlopez8676]

As a former artillery reenactor ( Washington Artillery Co. 5) I appreciated this video. I crewed both a Cohorn mortor, and a Woodruff gun. I would enjoy seeing a video on the operation, including aiming of mortors to augment this video. Also, might I suggest adding an explanation of what happens in a misfire drill. I think your audience would find that interesting.

[@anglohero6295]

I enjoyed this demonstration very much, thank you and greetings from England.

[@P_E_P_1966]

Great Job - very informative - THX

[@Ferda1964]

thanks for the great artillery tutorial

[@antares4s]

Very nicely done. Its was slow, technical and reasonably complete. In many ways far better than some of the re-enactor demonstrations. Somebody clearly thought this presentation through, broke it down, and covered the essential parts well.

[@tomservo5347]

A veteran gun crew could get off 4 shots a minute-better than the infantry rifle musket. Henry Hunt, in charge of artillery for the Army of the Potomac however specifically ordered his men to fire slowly-mainly to conserve ammunition and part Yankee thriftiness at the cost of each shot.

[@sloanchampion85]

very nice thanks for sharing, the gun crew is exellent

[@knaik354]

Vary educative video on ancient gunnery of American civil war era. Everything explained in simple language stape by step with scientific explanation.

[@delstrain8590]

Number 4 man? I smell a damn Yankee vest under the coat of glorious grey butternut. Rebel yell! A lot of intricate workings like a Swiss watch. Porter and Pelham were genius at the use of artillery.

[@unhappyattendantughh2469]

Very informative, thank you.

[@johnpetersen8238]

I never knew so much stuff went in to consideration,when firing these guns.Very good video,very interesting and informative.💣

[@JohnnyReb]

I know that I'm a tad late to this comment but now imagine doing all of that while being under counter artillery fire!

[@johnpetersen8238]

@@JohnnyReb Hopefully your buddies are ready to fire, when your gun is being reloaded.If someone in your squad gets hit, the rest of you have to pick up the slack, and quick.😲

[@drewdavies3010]

What a lovely introduction

[@intotheabyssoftheunknown4479]

Awesome & straight forward crash course concerning the principles, skills & procedures warranted to successfully operate & man a Artillery Battery or Brigrade. It requires teamwork developing skill sets which keeps you alive & successful. Practice and repetition of everyone's skills become shared knowledge among your Artillery Battery Unit members! Learning everything within each members designated positions become interchangeable & manageable within its own maximum abilities or limitations! If members are wounded or killed while in the line of fire, the team adapts it's effectiveness when their team is possibly reduced by incoming enemy small arms & cannon taking casualties & collateral damage! I'm a retired combat veteran myself. I've experienced many different types of artillery, missles, mortor attacks, including sniper & multiple "directional" of various arms fire from, land, aerial & sea based. Then there's unmanned drone warfare. But in all honest, when I compare those same capabilites to what you gentleman are subjected to perform to deliver death from a mile away? With many firing in rapid secession of bombardment? I'd be very much more fearful charging toward these flying, explosive & destructive beasts! I've read many personally letters written from Union & Confederate soldiers describing in detail what they experienced before they were later killed or they survived to tell their battle stories! I remember reading one in particular which described how the upper sky would become clouded with a mixture of smoke from several hundred exchanges of cannon and actual human blood which its trajectory, adhered to the other particles. The smoke appeared to have a strange pink hue color! Which was caused by the result of forces which govern molecular dislocation of its human casualties! As smoke settled and clear after several hours, if were within the proximity of these smoke clouds, you'd notice blood droplets clinging to uniform & exposed surfaces like your eyes & face. It was those fatal origins which caused that pink-like colored hue! It consisted of blood and discharged powder from these deadly munitions! They caused such brutal & mortal destruction surrounding you! Transforming life into instantaneous pieces of what's left standing! Even from each barrage of incoming salvos. Many suffered pulverized or missing limbs, which were also caused death by bleeding out from the secondary effects of propelled shrapnel! I can imagine the elevated actuality of fear this warfare offered it's enemies & adversaries! I know what cause & effect our modern warfare today is acheived! But to think about these brave & courageous men charging straight towards a flak they planned to breach? It's like D-Day landing on Normandy Beach repeatedly & expected anytime it was ordered as planned strategy! That's what I'd consider as instant "PTSD" after surviving from such multiple offensive attacks! Even the fighting at close quarters with pistols, muskets, swords & bayonets was also horrific when they literally colliding directly into the opposing cluster of your armed rivals! I apologize for going on with my thoughts of our past fallen brothers! They were much more capable & had much bigger balls of courage! They were willing to risk their lives fighting for freedoms, rights and liberties they earned! What we have today as far future our younger generations of social misfits & political cowards? It's a pathetic thought which is based on facts and truth of what is reality!

[@erics745]

Great vid guys

[@kenbo-2179]

This is awesome!

[@13thBear]

"Again," "like I said." That good ol' boy needs to think about what he says! :lol Overall, that's an excellent presentation! It answered many questions I had about the loading and firing of civil war era cannons and the functions of the various crewmen. This is the best presentation I have seen yet about these subjects and I am very grateful to North Carolina for this fine video. Oh, I need to say, this "Yankee" is grateful for this demonstration! :D

[@warskye5686]

This YANKEE says ThANK YOU for your DEDICATION.

[@Horus2Osiris]

Such dedication, impressive. Thank you.

[@yankee1112]

Great video gentlemen. This yankee really appreciates your hard work and expertise!

[@BLEMAK1]

I would imagine a lot of the crew lost their hearing Also I wonder if they were crossed trained in duties if one was injured or killed

[@kevinamerio8105]

Gentlemen , fantastic video!!

[@vespelian5769]

My great, great, great grandfather was wounded in battle in 1864 but in a different war. Those cannon would not have been out of place at Naesby, in the English Civil War.

[@baystateplugflipper7061]

Great job gents!!

[@Dav1Gv]

What an excellent video. Only one minor point, In the British Army field guns tended to be classified by the weight of shell in both WW1, eg 18 pndr, and WW2, eg 25 pndr although howitzers and heavy guns were often classified by the bore. Thought this might avoid confusion for those looking at other wars and countries. In WW1 non UK field guns were classified by the bore, eg French 75mm, German 77mm and 150 mm howitzers.

[@mica122213]

amazing presentation

[@hagenhubner9987]

Thank you so, so much for uploading this! :-) :-)

[@guydumas2729]

très bien expliqué, finally all the détails. superbe

[@jamesshemwell6868]

I found this especially interesting because I served in an Artillery Battery in the Oklahoma National Guard before going Active Duty in the Air Force as a Surgical Technician. I tell people that I went from blowing them up to patching them up. As a result I have a question concerning both areas of my service. Do they have casualty figures for the Artillery verses the Infantry During the Civil War. Thanks for a very interesting presentation.

[@NIGHTOWL-jf9zt]

I am familiar with Muzzle Loaders and it would have been nice to explain what they do on a hang fire, misfire. Is the tool of number two capable of gripping the loaded shot to pull it out? Just to mention. Over all very good job at this presentation!

[@ilfarmboy]

4 grades of black powder- 1F= cannon powder / 2F and 3F for pistol, rifle,carbine,musket / 4f is priming powder for flintlocks and if needed cannons

[@daltondickens1848]

Correct me if I am wrong as I think I heard this on Kevin Burns Civil War Special. That the South had to improvise on a large scale, vs the Union. From what I remember from Burn's special, that Southern households; to support the war effort= were to have different chamber pots for urine and "you know". When the urine lost it's water content, the substance left was used as a ingredient of gunpowder called salt peter. Often the women would get chamber pots with a picture of some Union General painted inside.

[@thecrankster4162]

Whats amazing is that those cannons are still the biggest bullet that can fire on land and go 2 miles,,,and we dont use them in war anymore, because we have planes now

[@timmynormand8082]

Really informative. I was asked to be on a cannon crew in a couple weeks from now just wanted to get an idea of what's up we have 3 cannons with 3 men per gun. It's for a movie set. We even get paid !!!!

[@vanguardactual1]

needed more men per gun!

[@timmynormand8082]

@@vanguardactual1 actually it usually requirers 4 men we were shorthanded. Still got the job DONE

[@DKDonson]

Xcellent, thanks.

[@sarsfieldabu3223]

Greetings from Fortress Spike Island, in Ireland, interested to see how you gents present and operate your ordnance! Best wishes and regards.

[@sasquatchalleged5759]

Been to this battlefield. Lots of history written there.

[@karlbraun5382]

A fine demonstration men......I'm in the 'deep South ' in NZ and have been an avid Confederate historically interested person for many years. "keep yi'powder dry"

[@michaelpryor2981]

GREAT STUFF GUYZ!! NICELY DONE SO THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR KNOWLEDGE ABOUT OUR HISTORY!!!

[@jeffmilroy9345]

What is the likelihood of successfully bringing up an artillery piece to support charging/attacking infantry in a battle such as Pickets Charge? The reb troops eating union double canister as they approached the stone wall. The reb artillery bombardment was long over by then and those resources were available. Why not have a team of horses pull up a gun or three (on the run) to aid in the breakthrough and return the double canister favor? If nothing else it would at least provide some psychological support... Can you imagine making the charge; seeing half the charging troops being blown to bits; finally making a breakthrough; turning to look for reinforcements; and, seeing not even the smallest vestige of support. All Lee had to do was order his reserve troops to begin a supporting charge - he could always call them back.

[@stephen26448]

Was cannons always used on a wide opened field to see the target or how did the gunner get his coordinates did they always have to see the target to shoot at it

[@Mrlrobertson]

Is the time of flight fuze setting chart written inside the ammunition lid to assist the #6 man?

[@kenibnanak5554]

Probably.

[@a.N.....]

god bless all the heros of the civil war north and south yall made us what we are today

[@BenBomb5]

Honestly I'm most impressed that the crew is wearing coats, instead of the usual all red shirts

[@a.N.....]

why tho?

[@adityasuresh6607]

They look legit Other wise in the union camp : Aim at the cluster of red uniforms confederates.

[@Agent-kb3zb]

I’m not sure that’s correct what he says at 32:00. Was there ever enough room on the limber or caissons for all of the cannoneers to avoid having to march on foot?

[@monumentstosuffering2995]

Most excellent and important work. Profound.

[@BlackPowderGame]

Thanks!

[@JimJonesKoolaid]

Excellent video, thank you! If by chance yall see this, what kind of ear protection was used? I know that protecting the hearing in battle is more of a modern thing but id imagine soldiers, especially artillerymen, would realize the dangers the guns posed to their ears and hearing. L

[@astridvallati4762]

In the Naval Gun crews ( RN) during the Napoleonic Wars guncrews used head scarves covering their ears to reduce the sound effect. But even the 50s and 60s, Field Artillery had no hearing protection

[@bettertruck]

What would happen in the case of a misfire/powder not igniting? Was there a rapid-ish procedure to empty that bore in combat or were you screwed for the rest of the fight?

[@darecofreedomfarm3]

I pour picolé powder down the vent tube (after running the gimlet in again) and fire again. Works for me.

[@matt67524]

Artillery did NOT have high casualties rates, they were the lowest. A number of artillery officers transferred out to the infantry because it was extremely difficult to be promoted in the artillery since the casualty rate was so low.

[@twoxohxseven]

True. I believe Adelbert Ames (at a time leader of the 20th ME volunteers) is one example if memory serves.

[@charliejackson922]

I always understood that when it's on land it's either a cannon or a howitzer. Guns are on ships

[@stradostrado]

How fast could they reload during a heavy engagement for a long period of time?

[@Initialldnb]

very good job!

[@bagstermucha]

How were such cannons made, cast or there were also forged barrels?

[@allanmolina5094]

i can imagine the wounds and the carnage these canons would cause

[@Genevasuggestions1]

North Carolina, born and raised!

[@fredreddies1220]

Thanks What a neat Waylon spend time with the guys No drinking till done I’m sure

[@IPfrequently]

So the cannon can consistently hit a small barrel at a mile ! I doubt if the gunner could see an elephant at that range, let alone consistantly hit it.

[@machbaby]

What would they do if a charge failed to fire? Is there anyway to clear the bore?

[@ghostface1529]

Fun fact the bag guy actually uses his own body to keep the bag from being shot by opposing rifle fire so he turns his body into a meat shield so the round doesn't get hit by the enemy

[@larrybanks3245]

You win by using the phrase "meat shield".

[@marcosgonzales7080]

How were the cannons transported?

[@mateiaprozianu3289]

Cool thing you did with the crew, first 2 minutes.

[@COLINJELY]

Ar what range would you start firing Canister?

[@jayg1438]

I know this is old, but canister was good up to 600 meters (650 yards).

[@Jemalacane0]

That really is a crew-served weapon.