% of casualties attributable to artillery

[gary]

During the Pettigrew-Kemper and what's his name? charge on the third day? What % may be attributable to artillery and what percent to small arms fire? Has anyone ever done a study or written an article on it? M-T mines (empty minds) wanna no (want to know).

[amhistoryguy]

Appendix C in George R. Stewart's "Pickett's Charge," addresses the question.
Utilizing a formula that is largely based on rough numbers and guess work - rounds fired, the number of projectiles in a round of canister, the number of casualites, numbers of troops advancing, number of troops withdrawing, accuaracy of artillery fire, etc. etc. - Stewart comes to the conclusion that during the Pickett/Pettigrew/Kemper Charge, it is likely ABOUT 500 Confederates were casualties of long range artillery fire, and about 1000 men were casualties of canister fire, with all the remaining casualties the result of small arms fire.
He likewise determines that nearly all Union casualties were the result of small arms fire.
There are no hospital or burial records of this to go on, so Stewarts conclusion may be the best we have to go on.

Regards, Dave Gorski

[whitworth]

Most historians consider it fairly insignificant. Of course, it is true that most battles involved woundings and killings with musket fire.
However, there were battles that contributed a fair share of artillery casualties.
Most historians forget Gettysburg, Malvern Hill and Franklin, Tennessee. Confederates would have killed a fair number of AoP troops at Fredericksburg and Cold Harbor, with artillery. Artillery for the AoP played an important role on July 2nd and 3rd at Gettysburg.

Confederate General Wilcox reported a good number of his brigades casualties at Gettysburg were due to artillery fire on July 3. Historians that say artillery casualties were low at Gettysburg, never mention Wilcox.

General Henry J. Hunt said that Pickett's attack would have been stopped sooner, if Hancock had save some of his long-range artillery ammunition for the Confederate infantry.

Besides casualties, one must consider the effect on slowing or ending an attack by the assaulting force. One will never know the number of Confederate troops that layed down, due to artillery fire, and then later retreated to their lines; surviving for other battles.

If you never read of Lt. Col. Freeman McGilvery's Reserve artillery of 39 cannon on July 3rd, on Cemetery Ridge, waiting for Pickett's Charge, you have reason to not know the part AoP artillery played at Gettysburg.

Some historians were completely unaware that the AoP artillery was firing very accurate, rifled percussion artillery shells. Some historians merely footnoted the poor attention, previous historians paid to artillery at Gettysburg. Some historians had no clue the damage inflicted by percussion rifled artillery ammunition. Especially in a open field. Like the ones at Gettysburg.

[larry_cockerham]

You mentioned Franklin. Artillery fire from Ft. Grainger on the advancing right Confederate flank was quite effective. The Confederates had little or no artillery at Franklin. They were merely 'tourist's and the luggage hadn't arrived when Hood sent them into battle. Cavalry artillery under Forrest was quite effective in attacking blockhouses and stockades. Mobile guns with competent commanders such as Morton and Kelly brought several skirmishes to quick conclusions. Big guns such as at Gettysburg, required a dumb cooperative force to be effective. They weren't going anywhere. The Confederate barrage didn't seem to have too much impact. Too far away or less accuracy?? Pickett marched straight into the barrels. Forrest and Longstreet would have flanked!

[blue_zouave]

The trouble with trying to ascertain the number of casualties caused by artillery is that ACW casualty statistics were collected in the hospital. Statistics weren't kept on troops the cause of death of troops killed outright. The numbers of artillery-caused deaths are likely much higher than the records show.

Zou

[scone]

Originally Posted by larry_cockerham

The Confederates had little or no artillery at Franklin. They were merely 'tourist's and the luggage hadn't arrived when Hood sent them into battle.

Larry,
While I agree that most of the Confederate Artillery was just spectators to the big show.. I believe it was Thomas or David at the Carter House that said that the aryillery that was on the field was used and more than previous thought..

The Smoke House and the House as you know still show the scars.

regards