Confederate Artillery during the American Civil War

Background

During the American Civil War, one of the Union’s strongest advantages over the Confederacy was its superior artillery. The Confederacy began on April 17th 1861, when Virginia seceded from the Union, followed within 5 weeks by Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina. On April 19, President Lincoln issues a Proclamation of Blockade against the Southern ports. This blockade remained in effect throughout the entirety of the war, significantly limiting Southern supply options. (1)

The South was a predominantly agricultural society, as opposed to the manufacturing one of the North. Therefore, without the ability to gain manufactured goods, i.e. rifles, ammunition, shot, etc., from the North, and with no ability to trade for it due to the Union’s blockade, the South had a very hard time fielding quality artillery.

Armstrong 8-inch Iron Rifle

The basic artillery unit was called a battery, Union batteries typically consisted of six guns, however due to low supplies Confederate batteries typically consisted of four. Confederate batteries were so undersupplied that it was not uncommon to see four different calibers within one battery. (2)Although the Confederacy’s Artillery was far inferior to the Union’s six gun, consistent-caliber, batteries, they did manage to sneak a few cargo ships carrying much-needed British Ordance past the Union’s blockade. One of the more notable deliveries the Confederacy received from England was the British “Armstrong 8-inch Iron-Rifle.” [http://www.pbocorp.biz/images/CenterPintleBarbettepic5.jpg] Weighing in at 15,735 lbs with a caliber of 8 inches (203mm), this piece defended Fort Fisher, which by late 1864 was the last major port still open to the Confederacy. (3)

Vandenburgh's Volley Gun

Another interesting piece of artillery employed by the Confederacy was Vandenburgh's Colley Gun [http://www.cross-sites.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/WBTS/weapons/strange.html] , a one-of-a-kind piece of artillery. At first glance it appears to be a primitive machine gun, consisting of eighty-five individual 12.7mm barrels, which seemingly fire in sequential rotation. However, instead of firing in sequential rotation, the Volley Gun, is intended to do just that, fire a "volley." All eighty-five barrels had to be loaded individually, a process taking several minutes, then all eighy-five barrels would fire simultaneously. General Origen Vandenburgh of the New York State Militia invented this piece, however could not sell it to the United States and therefore attempted to sell it to the British. Eventually it was put into production by Robinson and Cottam, in London, where it did not see much use. However, at least one is known to have ended up in use by the Confederate Army, where the extent of its use is still uncertain. (3)

Standard Field Artillery

In addition to these interesting forms of artillery, the majority of the Cofederate Artillery was comprised of stolen Union 12-pounder Napoleons, Parott Rifles, and 3-inch Ordnances. (For more info see Field_Artillery_in_the_American_Civil_War)

Works Referenced

1.www.civilwar.com [http://www.civilwar.com/content/section/16/42/]
2.Katcher, Philip. 1986. "American Civil War Armies (1): Confederate Artillery, Cavalry and Infantry."
3.Miller, David. 2001. "Uniforms, Weapons, and Equipment of the Civil War."
4.www.pbocorp.biz [http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.pbocorp.biz/images/CenterPintleBarbettepic5.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.pbocorp.biz/AllMetalGunCarriagesseacoast.htm&h=480&w=640&sz=75&hl=en&start=9&tbnid=joIH-gDjFIKeGM:&tbnh=103&tbnw=137&prev=/images%3Fq%3DArmstrong%2B8-inch%2BIron%2BRifle%26gbv%3D2%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26channel%3Ds%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DG]
5.www.securityarms.com [http://www.cross-sites.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/WBTS/weapons/strange.html]