The Whitworth Guns: British Tech at Gettysburg, Civil War Walk 🇬🇧

On Oak Hill at Gettysburg with two British imported Whitworth cannons to discuss the development of the Whitworth and British imports in the American Civil War.
#civilwar #militaryhistory #artillery #gettysburg
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[@britishmuzzleloaders]

Great work Darrell! Such a different profile to other contemporary pieces...

[@theministryforhistory]

Thanks very much indeed, Rob!

[@Shadowmourne07]

@@theministryforhistory I've really started to get into cartridge making for historical weapons and I've got some interest from my friends as well. do you guys have a group where you discuss this sort of thing?

[@elwayward3668]

My prep school was set up in Whitworth’s stately home in Derbyshire. He built a huge range at the edge of his estate, though by my time all that lovely levelled ground was converted into cricket pitches and rugby fields; very sporting! Unfortunately, it’s all housing now. A fascinating man and an awesome mechanician, and a very charitable fellow too (he built a local hospital and institute). The locals, however, remembered his curmudgeonly nature. Apparently, when he had his own train station built in the village to take him on his commute to Manchester he insisted that when he caught the train no one else was allowed on the platform!

[@darylwilliams7883]

Counter-battery fire then?

[@EarthenDam]

I remember a testimony of a Whitworth cannoneer who said “that when it fired it never failed to entertain.” Apparently the hexagonal rifling made an interesting trajectory any how it the odd shaped round looked spinning in the air.

[@henryofskalitz2228]

It had a very fast twist rate for rifling at the time it was like 1 in 26 if I remember correctly

[@SStupendous]

Far as I recall it wasn't possible to actually see the round in the air (same with other rifled shot) due to the speed, unlike smoothbore rounds.

[@bobo12055]

Cool video buddy. I was watching Brett's videos and you poped up. I live in Carlisle and get over the the park often. I've stood at those guns and thought anything you can see from that spot can be hit with those guns.

[@michaeldarby3503]

With what the cotton trade was worth to England, we would be very keen to supply the Confederacy but 300 pounds was a hell of a lot of money then.

[@theministryforhistory]

Indeed! It shows how much time, effort, and precision went into the production of each gun and its ammunition. However dear the cotton famine cost Britain however, Egypt and India soon made up the difference.

[@michaeldarby3503]

@@theministryforhistory I havent had time to watch many of your shows but I am very impressed with what I have seen, keep up the good work (and more on Crimea if possible)

[@theministryforhistory]

@@michaeldarby3503 there’s another American Civil War series coming next but, starting in June, prepare for a torrent of Crimea content!

[@DumDumHistory]

@@theministryforhistory Interestingly, it was the cotton workers themselves who exhibited pro-Union sentiments. The US Civil War seems to have been a real bone of contention in British society at the time.

[@theministryforhistory]

Indeed! Lincoln personally wrote to Lancashire during the Cotton Famine - we talk about it extensively in our video here - kzbin.info/www/bejne/q2K8omeMd5yAopY

[@worstchoresmadesimple6259]

The Confederacy actually bought a few Whitworth Rifles. Expensive purchase. Someone had good taste in the Confederacy.

[@LittleLouieLagazza]

South Carolinian Wade Hampton imported them for his Hampton Legion's battery

[@rustyyorkshire7063]

Can you do a video on Maximilian of Mexico and that whole thing please

[@hancock63]

Some years ago I was watching another history program about these cannons and the presenter said that a battery of these guns were imported by the Union War Dept, but the cannons were left sitting on the dock in New York because they weren't needed. I guess there were enough American made artillery pieces to go around.

[@SStupendous]

Confederates on the other hand, took them to use I think? Shame about those cannon. Most Whitworth imported were used.

[@Jabberstax]

That's one luxurious looking beard you've got there. 👌

[@theministryforhistory]

Thanks very much!

[@SStupendous]

@@theministryforhistory Love the jacket and the outfit, too! I actually recognize where you got it from!

[@jameshurt6116]

That's Hurt's Battery, Alabama Artillery Reserve...

[@xzqzq]

Six mile range, in the mid 1800s ? I knew the rifles were excellent, but had never heard of artillery pieces by Whitworth.... I wonder how they adjusted fire at 6 miles ? Observers downrange with semaphore flags ?

[@Jubilo1]

Interesting video-thank you.

[@unclelumbago_1899]

Absolutely beautiful kind of cannon great video

[@theministryforhistory]

Indeed! Thanks for watching!

[@therainbowgulag.]

Great video

[@lalec1417]

Very impressive. Thank you.

[@theministryforhistory]

Thanks for watching!

[@leadshark9461]

Thank you for this video.

[@theministryforhistory]

Thanks again for watching!

[@Shadowmourne07]

Hey, does anyone know someone in the Houston Texas area that does paper cartridges? I have a friend that is interested in it and I live too far away to give him a first hand demonstration.

[@theministryforhistory]

Check out our Paper Cartridges channel and PaperCartridges.com!

[@noneyourbusines6738]

Yay boyyy

[@iancrom3320]

Brilliant

[@theministryforhistory]

Thank you!

[@Psittacus_erithacus]

Excellent video on an interesting piece of history. Much appreciated!

[@AlecioG]

After having just finished the ken burns documentary on the Civil War, which I my opinion is one of the finest films on the subject, this youtube series is absolutely brilliant. I just can't get enough of it!

[@theministryforhistory]

Thanks very much for saying so! I greatly appreciate it. Thank you for watching!

[@SStupendous]

I love that documentary, only problem I've ever had on it is as concerns warfare and technology, doesn't go into much detail at all! Great narrative account of the war.

[@skepticalbadger]

"Gun" is more correct than "cannon".

[@theministryforhistory]

Indeed. It is quite literally the title of the video.

[@billd.iniowa2263]

My first question is, What about securing ammo? Did you get a mold with every gun you bought? The thing looks pretty useless without the special hexagonal rounds to fire. Second, could you fire canister with it? Thats some serious twist to the rifling!

[@theministryforhistory]

There would have been provisions to supply ammunition or the ability to produce it, but I believe they might have been shipped separately, as the Union had difficulties fabricating ammunition when they captured the guns off 'Princess Royal'. You absolutely needed the bolts, greased wadding, and cartridge, for it to work correctly. It's unlikely that one would use this to fire canister, it is definitely something for long range fire, and likely never would have been placed in a position to require canister.

[@billd.iniowa2263]

@@theministryforhistory Ok, thanx for answering. I'd be very reluctant to buy into a weapon system at such a high price, AND with such a tenuous supply of ammo. I'd buy a few molds before even considering buying the guns. No wonder there werent that many purchased. -- I asked the canister question for one reason: You always want to have a close range option, just in case. I realize these are long-range weapons. But the battlefield contains alot of "what ifs", ya know? -- I like your work. I'll be subscribing to see more.

[@grahamgibbs5948]

Thanks for your detail. So glad that we Englishmen tried to assist the Southern Cause in the fight for self determination.

[@MrTScolaro]

It wasn't about self determination. The South had effective representation. It was 100% about slavery.

[@pcka12]

@@MrTScolaro wasn’t a lot of it about taxation? Since a major motivation for the original split from Britain was in order to retain slavery which in numerous cases in English courts had been found to be illegal? (The Somerset Case is but one example).

[@MrTScolaro]

@@pcka12 Not really, unless you consider the move from a world low tariff of 17% before the Morrill tariff of 26% was imposed in 1860 sufficient to cause breaking the union. Personnally I think the difference is of a magnitude to cause for political debate/strife not rebellion. Slavery was the issue.

[@pcka12]

@@MrTScolaro but there is plenty of evidence that northern politicians didn’t care a toss about abolishing slavery (except when it suited their political advantage) & it is pretty obvious that few of the southern rank and file had any real prospect of ever owning a slave so that the existence of ‘free labour’ in competition with them actually placed them at a disadvantage. As with most conflicts the participants where more like a football crowd supporting the ‘home team’ rather deeply ‘moral’ or ‘immoral’ (depending upon your viewpoint) actors. Remember that New York (therefore ‘Union’) crowds lynched coloured people whilst all this was going on!

[@MrTScolaro]

@@pcka12Oh come on. Whataboutitism doesn't cut it with me. It is the style of argument for those who know they do not have a leg to stand on. The South had slaves. The North didn't. There was a war. The war ended with the North winning and adopting the 13th amendment which ended slavery QED. It really isn't any more complicated than that.

[@rebelscumspeedshop]

Sadly the quality of any cannon or rifle the CSA had was gravely hindered by supply. To put it into perspective the army of the Potomac was completely resupplied with all the ordinance it spent at Gettysburg in less than a week .