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My cannon crew fires a six pounder, no projectile, ordinary powder charge is 8 ounces. From the side of the muzzle (my usual position as wormer), it's so loud that I have to cover my ears, yawn, - and it's still unpleasant.
I can't even comprehend what a battery of cannon - say, 32 pounders, each firing 10 - 12 pound powder charges - must sound like!
During the Civil War acoustic shadow was reported at Gaines's Mill, Fort Donelson, Seven Pines, Iuka, Perryville, Chancellorsville and Five Forks.
Acoustic shadow is the result of a number of factors affecting the transmission of battle sounds. Among the factors thought to create this effect are; Absorbtion of sound by foliage or land mass, Upward refraction of sound do to temperature differences in the air, Upward refraction of sound due to wind shear.
Charles D Ross did a very interesting examination of acoustic shadow in his book, "Civil War Acoustic Shadows."
You can go to -you tube - and key in - cannon civil war - and find some demonstrations of field artillery.
Note that these are reduced charges with no shell, so the noise is less. Also note that unlike the actually civil war firings, the recoil does not force the wheels to move to the rear.
Some cannon used one pound of powder; the Dahlgren XI cannon aboard the U.S.S. Monitor used 15 pounds of powder per shot. Later it was increased, through experiment and proofing to 30 pounds.
Remember the modern demonstrations are at reduced noise levels.
Suggestion: trot out Gettysburg and key to the Confederate salvo on Cemetary Ridge. Turn up the volume until the windows rattle and you can't stand it. Triple that discomfort and you might be getting close to the actual sound.
Ole
__________________ I never knew a man who wished to be himself a slave. Consider if you know any good thing that no man desires for himself. A. Lincoln
Reenactors don't use a real load, so would imagine the sound is different. Even then, it makes a pretty good rip-snortin' teeth-rattlin' thump (as opposed to a crack!)
Harper's Ferry was well shielded on the north and east. I'm suspecting you were wondering if they could hear it from South Mountain or Fox's Gap. I recollect reading that Jackson's assault could be heard from Fox's Gap. How far that is in air miles, I don't know.
Ole
Ole
I have heard reenactors cannons and they were loud. On a trip to Fox's Gap at South Mountain using my great-grandfather's diary I was able to find the area where he was wounded. He had described a ravine with dead Confederate troops in it near where he entered the woods from the NW corner of the field. My wife felt a presence when walking this spot near the ravene.
__________________ "Those who forget to remember the past are condemned to repeat it", George Santayana.
.............that the Reb barrage which preceeded Pickett's Glorious charge, was the loudest man made sound that has ever been heard in the US.
Does anyone know if that is true?
Just a D**n shame it didn't work!
No. it isn't true. Was eclipsed several times in the 20th Century. Wee explosions out at Los Alamos...
__________________ Few take the trouble to understand or to view the American scene with perspective. And we Americans love to find ourselves guilty of something. However, it is never I who am guilty, but those other Americans, the past or present government or the other political party. Americans almost never find other countries guilty. It is always ourselves or our fancied influence in other countries. Louis L'amour
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