Artillery Practice - First Time with Live Ammunition

[Reconstructed Rebel]

The author of this diary gets extra points in my opinion for his deadpan humor and honest accounts. Definitely someone I would want to sit down with to discuss the finer points of soldiering.

August 1. We had been drilling and going through the motions of artillery firing every day for a month, and a few days ago it was thought best to test our theory by a little practice. Each gun was to fire eight rounds. The targets, about the size of a large barn, were set up 600 yards in front of the guns.

At noon the pickets were called in from out the woods and soon after the firing commenced. I ordered a blank to commence with to see if the old gun would shoot. It spoke out splendidly, I was pleased with it; I then ordered a solid shot. It was fired and went somewhere, I don't know where; but it didn't hit the target. Calculating that a shell will travel a mile in seven seconds and the target was about a third of a mile away, I thought I would try one with the fuse at three seconds. It was fired and burst at the muzzle of the gun. That was not satisfactory.

I then ordered another with the fuse at five seconds. This exploded when about half way to the target. I began to think those shell were all intended for short range anyway, and ordered one at one second. It was fired, and I heard it whizzing off through the woods a mile away. I was disgusted with shell practice and thought I would try canister. We fired one and I could see the bushes cut away at about 200 yards.

Those shots had been fired at two degrees elevation. I ordered the corporal to sight the gun at the tops of the trees out in the woods, and tried another canister. This was better, the shot scattering about the target. We had now only one more shot, I thought I would try a solid one, and ordered the gun sighted at the top of the target. This was an excellent shot and I know it must have gone very near the target as I saw the top of a tree shake out in the woods in a direct line of the target.

On the whole, the firing was not entirely satisfactory, but the gunnery was all that could be desired and I am inclined to think the fault was in the ammunition. I think it must have been shopworn or second-hand. But perhaps I ought not to find too much fault, as this was our first practice. I am now impatient for an attack, for I know we can hold this post against any force that would be likely to be brought against it, and demonstrate to the country that we are heroes descended from heroes.

Source: pages 96-97

My diary of rambles with the 25th Mass. volunteer infantry, with Burnside's coast division; 18th army corps, and Army of the James : Day, D. L. (David L.) : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

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[Dan Kohli]

This is an interesting excerpt, thanks for sharing.

 

[Rhea Cole]

A table of fire is inside the lid of every artillery ammunition box.

My guess is that he was indulging in a bit of red leg humor. Cutting a fuze at 3 seconds is 800 yards… ideal range for a six pounder. 2 seconds is 600 yards. For good reason, there were no 1 second fuzes. The numbers one & two were thankful for that.

 

[Rhea Cole]

View attachment 582336

My guess is that he was indulging in a bit of red leg humor. Cutting a fuze at 3 seconds is 1,000 yards… extreme range for a six pounder. 2 seconds is 600 yards. For good reason, there were no 1 second fuzes. The numbers one & two were thankful for that.

 

[Belfoured]

View attachment 582336

My guess is that he was indulging in a bit of red leg humor. Cutting a fuze at 3 seconds is 1,000 yards… extreme range for a six pounder. 2 seconds is 600 yards. For good reason, there were no 1 second fuzes. The numbers one & two were thankful for that.

It's interesting that he attributes the problem to the "ammunition". If that means the projectile, it's possible. I assume the "fuses" were Bormanns. If so, there are some anecdotes of failures of the fuze itself but also instances where it was determined that the fuze had not been properly fixed to the projectile at the arsenal. Those instances included the projectile exploding at the muzzle or shortly after.

 

[Rhea Cole]

It's interesting that he attributes the problem to the "ammunition". If that means the projectile, it's possible. I assume the "fuses" were Bormanns. If so, there are some anecdotes of failures of the fuze itself but also instances where it was determined that the fuze had not been properly fixed to the projectile at the arsenal. Those instances included the projectile exploding at the muzzle or shortly after.

I agree about the Bormanns. Somehow I don't see him being quite so okey-dokey about bad fuzes.

Traditionally, in training, it is drill, fire one round, rotate positions, drill / fire a round, rotate through every position. That would explain the eight rounds being fired. I have done that maybe a hundred times, so seems reasonable to me. Just a thought. That would at least account for the errant gun laying.

 

[Reconstructed Rebel]

Sgt. Day writes with a great deal of laconic irony. That said, in a July 7 entry, 3 weeks before they get live ammo, he mentions being promoted to artillery duty, and I don't have a sense that he, or maybe anyone else, was particularly well versed in their duties yet.

I GET PROMOTED.
JULY 7. Today a sergeant, corporal and eight privates from each company have been detailed to manipulate the big guns. I had the honor of being selected from my company, and was assigned the left gun, a most dangerous and hazardous position. I feel proud of my promotion and am sure I shall sustain the honor of the artillery service. For a day or two we shall be under the instructions of a battery sergeant who will instruct us in loadings and firings. We shall also have to inform ourselves from a small book, giving instruction in loading and firing, and in calculating distances, elevations and depressions of the guns. My gun on the left occupies a very commanding position, being some ten feet higher than the other guns. From the top of the parapet to the bottom of the ravine, it is some 30 or 40 feet, and a part of the way nearly perpendicular. I have a range of the whole clearing and covering both the other guns ; because of its great natural strength and commanding position, I have dubbed it the MalaKoff. I being the senior sergeant, am styled on all hands, by both officers and men, as the chief of artillery, a rank I accept and have assumed all the privileges which that rank implies.

 

[Rhea Cole]

Sgt. Day writes with a great deal of laconic irony. That said, in a July 7 entry, 3 weeks before they get live ammo, he mentions being promoted to artillery duty, and I don't have a sense that he, or maybe anyone else, were particularly well versed in their duties yet.

I GET PROMOTED.
JULY 7. Today a sergeant, corporal and eight privates from each company have been detailed to manipulate the big guns. I had the honor of being selected from my company, and was assigned the left gun, a most dangerous and hazardous position. I feel proud of my promotion and am sure I shall sustain the honor of the artillery service. For a day or two we shall be under the instructions of a battery sergeant who will instruct us in loadings and firings. We shall also have to inform ourselves from a small book, giving instruction in loading and firing, and in calculating distances, elevations and depressions of the guns. My gun on the left occupies a very commanding position, being some ten feet higher than the other guns. From the top of the parapet to the bottom of the ravine, it is some 30 or 40 feet, and a part of the way nearly perpendicular. I have a range of the whole clearing and covering both the other guns ; because of its great natural strength and commanding position, I have dubbed it the MalaKoff. I being the senior sergeant, am styled on all hands, by both officers and men, as the chief of artillery, a rank I accept and have assumed all the privileges which that rank implies.

As the sergeant chief of the piece Sgt. Day was a supervisor, not one of the numbered gun crew positions.

It was the corporal gunner who aimed the piece…

… with the assistance of # 3. He made a touch down sign, steps back & calls ready.

# 3 inserts the priming wire into the vent to pierce the round. # 4 inserts the friction primer, steps out & nods his head when set.

Depending, either the chief of the piece / gunner / section / battery commander calls, FIRE!

It was then the duty of the chief to observe the fall of shot, which explains the content of the letter.

As can be seen in the image, the battery has fired by piece from the left. This was standard procedure to allow for observation of the fall of shot. The chiefs can be seen standing clear. Gun crewmen are too busy recovering from the recoil & drill positions to accurately describe the fall of shot. As chief of piece # 1 on the left flank, Day would likely have a clear view.

These letters have been really good. Don't recall a chief of the piece narrative. Where did these letters come from. I would like to archive them.

 

[Reconstructed Rebel]

Don't recall a chief of the piece narrative. Where did these letters come from. I would like to archive them.

Note - soldier's name is Sgt. David Day, not Zink, if I am reading your post correctly.

I think you are asking for this source? See page 95.

My diary of rambles with the 25th Mass. volunteer infantry, with Burnside's coast division; 18th army corps, and Army of the James : Day, D. L. (David L.) : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

The metadata below describe the original scanning. Follow the All Files: HTTP link in the View the book box to the left to find XML files that contain more...

archive.org

I have to say, of all the diary/ reminiscences I've read, the 25th Mass Volunteer Infantry seems the - let's say - least rigid in their organization and order. But maybe other writers were less inclined to share the details to such a degree. Or it is just the difference between volunteers and regulars.

 

[Rhea Cole]

Note - soldier's name is Sgt. David Day, not Zink, if I am reading your post correctly.

I think you are asking for this source? See page 95.

My diary of rambles with the 25th Mass. volunteer infantry, with Burnside's coast division; 18th army corps, and Army of the James : Day, D. L. (David L.) : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

The metadata below describe the original scanning. Follow the All Files: HTTP link in the View the book box to the left to find XML files that contain more...

archive.org

I have to say, of all the diary/ reminiscences I've read, the 25th Mass Volunteer Infantry seems the - let's say - least rigid in their organization and order. But maybe other writers were less inclined to share the details to such a degree. Or it is just the difference between volunteers and regulars.

Thanks for the edit, I am reading the journal of a Sgt Zink, ideal if weather conditions are a particular object of interest. Will definitely add Day's diary to my archive.

 

[alan polk]

there are some anecdotes of failures of the fuze itself but also instances where it was determined that the fuze had not been properly fixed to the projectile at the arsenal. Those instances included the projectile exploding at the muzzle or shortly after.

Just to expand on this a bit, and with hopes that folks might find it interesting.

Premature detonations were indeed a serious issue with Bormann-fuzed shells, particularly Confederate.

The late Civil War artillery historian, Peter C. George, explained to me how the South suspected that some of the premature detonation problems they were experiencing might be caused "by firing shock—causing a seam inside the fuze to split, allowing flame from the fuze's powder-train to prematurely enter the shell's bursting cavity."

He went on to say:

"One remedy the Confederates tried for overcoming the premature-detonation problem was to manufacture their Bormann-fuzed shells with a deep groove (which Machinists and Engineers call a rebate) encircling the bottom of the shell's "main" fuze-hole. The rebate's purpose was to accept a wider-than-normal leather gasket underneath the Bormann fuze."

"The theory was that the prematures were caused by firing-blast flame getting past the fuze's short threaded section and going underneath the fuze, thereby getting access to the shell's bursting-charge. You could say that the oversize gasket is a "head gasket," to seal the bottom of the main fuze-hole from intrusion by firing-blast flame."

This conversation I had with Pete George was initiated by my discovery of a 12-pound Bormann-fuzed projectile in west Hinds County, Mississippi.

After its discovery, I had a machinists in Virginia cut the projectile in half.

One-half of that sectioned projectile is pictured below. The area of rebate is circled in yellow:

One can see how the wider, thicker gasket could be thought to solve such a problem by the placement a rebate area under the fuse for a gasket. Unfortunately, the experiment never solved the problem of premature detonation.

As an interesting side note, my sectioned projectile proved to be a unique mystery to Pete George.

Here is Mr. George, in his own words, back in 2012:

"More than 30 years ago, when I was doing my studies about distinguishing CS-made Bormann fuzes from US-made ones, I noticed the big "gasket rebate" (groove) at the bottom of CS-made Bormann shells, and began to distribute my theory that its presence was a way to tell CS-made Bormann shells from US-made ones. Full confirmation came via the flood of cut-in-half Augusta GA cache CS Bormanns. Every one of those that I've ever seen has the gasket-rebate. So, the "guideline" I formulated is, the gasket rebate means CS-made, and no gasket rebate means it's either yankee-made or 1861 CS-made (before the gasket-as-premature-detonation-remedy was adopted)."

But, as mentioned above, my sectioned 12-pounder proved an anomaly—about which Mr. George expanded upon further:

"That 'guideline' has held true through all the following years, for every sawed-in-half Bormann shell with an identifiably CS-made or US-made fuze in it. [Alan's] sawed Bormann is the first I've seen which doesn't match up with the guideline. So, I have to think the simplest answer is that his shell is a CS-made Bormann with a captured US-made Bormann fuze in it. EDIT: Or, a captured CS-made shell fired by the yankees with a US-made fuze in it. (There is documented proof that the yanks used captured CS ordnance during the Vicksburg Campaign.)"

Anyhow, a few months later, my brother recovered another 12-pound Bormann projectile in the same location as mine. He also sent it off the be cut in half:

This specimen also contains the rebated area, and fits precisely with Pete George's initial designation as the typical Confederate-made Bormann with a gasket-rebate.

Again, this supposed solution never worked. Consequently, the Confederate government ceased production of Bormann fuzes in late 1862. However, these projectiles continued to be used throughout 1863.

 

[Dan Kohli]

For good reason, there were no 1 second fuzes. The numbers one & two were thankful for that.

The 1857 Light 12 pdr has a fuse that goes as short a 1 second.

 

[Belfoured]

Just to expand on this a bit, and with hopes that folks might find it interesting.

Premature detonations were indeed a serious issue with Bormann-fuzed shells, particularly Confederate.

The late Civil War artillery historian, Peter C. George, explained to me how the South suspected that some of the premature detonation problems they were experiencing might be caused "by firing shock—causing a seam inside the fuze to split, allowing flame from the fuze's powder-train to prematurely enter the shell's bursting cavity."

He went on to say:

"One remedy the Confederates tried for overcoming the premature-detonation problem was to manufacture their Bormann-fuzed shells with a deep groove (which Machinists and Engineers call a rebate) encircling the bottom of the shell's "main" fuze-hole. The rebate's purpose was to accept a wider-than-normal leather gasket underneath the Bormann fuze."

"The theory was that the prematures were caused by firing-blast flame getting past the fuze's short threaded section and going underneath the fuze, thereby getting access to the shell's bursting-charge. You could say that the oversize gasket is a "head gasket," to seal the bottom of the main fuze-hole from intrusion by firing-blast flame."

This conversation I had with Pete George was initiated by my discovery of a 12-pound Bormann-fuzed projectile in west Hinds County, Mississippi.

After its discovery, I had a machinists in Virginia cut the projectile in half.

One-half of that sectioned projectile is pictured below. The area of rebate is circled in yellow:

View attachment 582367

One can see how the wider, thicker gasket could be thought to solve such a problem by the placement a rebate area under the fuse for a gasket. Unfortunately, the experiment never solved the problem of premature detonation.

As an interesting side note, my sectioned projectile proved to be a unique mystery to Pete George.

Here is Mr. George, in his own words, back in 2012:

"More than 30 years ago, when I was doing my studies about distinguishing CS-made Bormann fuzes from US-made ones, I noticed the big "gasket rebate" (groove) at the bottom of CS-made Bormann shells, and began to distribute my theory that its presence was a way to tell CS-made Bormann shells from US-made ones. Full confirmation came via the flood of cut-in-half Augusta GA cache CS Bormanns. Every one of those that I've ever seen has the gasket-rebate. So, the "guideline" I formulated is, the gasket rebate means CS-made, and no gasket rebate means it's either yankee-made or 1861 CS-made (before the gasket-as-premature-detonation-remedy was adopted)."

But, as mentioned above, my sectioned 12-pounder proved an anomaly—about which Mr. George expanded upon further:

"That 'guideline' has held true through all the following years, for every sawed-in-half Bormann shell with an identifiably CS-made or US-made fuze in it. [Alan's] sawed Bormann is the first I've seen which doesn't match up with the guideline. So, I have to think the simplest answer is that his shell is a CS-made Bormann with a captured US-made Bormann fuze in it. EDIT: Or, a captured CS-made shell fired by the yankees with a US-made fuze in it. (There is documented proof that the yanks used captured CS ordnance during the Vicksburg Campaign.)"

Anyhow, a few months later, my brother recovered another 12-pound Bormann projectile in the same location as mine. He also sent it off the be cut in half:

View attachment 582368

This specimen also contains the rebated area, and fits precisely with Pete George's initial designation as the typical Confederate-made Bormann with a gasket-rebate.

Again, this supposed solution never worked. Consequently, the Confederate government ceased production of Bormann fuzes in late 1862. However, these projectiles continued to be used throughout 1863.

Excellent stuff. To be clear, I was referring to the Federal Bormanns, which were better-manufactured. As indicated, an investigation of premature detonations at Fredericksburg concluded that the problem was poor practices at the arsenal (Watervliet, IIRC) when affixing the fuze to the projectile.

I also recall Porter Alexander weighing in at one point on the manufacture of Confederate Bormanns. He referred to a specific "mechanical" issue which may have been different from the George analysis, but I don't recall the details.

 

[Rhea Cole]

Just to expand on this a bit, and with hopes that folks might find it interesting.

Premature detonations were indeed a serious issue with Bormann-fuzed shells, particularly Confederate.

The late Civil War artillery historian, Peter C. George, explained to me how the South suspected that some of the premature detonation problems they were experiencing might be caused "by firing shock—causing a seam inside the fuze to split, allowing flame from the fuze's powder-train to prematurely enter the shell's bursting cavity."

He went on to say:

"One remedy the Confederates tried for overcoming the premature-detonation problem was to manufacture their Bormann-fuzed shells with a deep groove (which Machinists and Engineers call a rebate) encircling the bottom of the shell's "main" fuze-hole. The rebate's purpose was to accept a wider-than-normal leather gasket underneath the Bormann fuze."

"The theory was that the prematures were caused by firing-blast flame getting past the fuze's short threaded section and going underneath the fuze, thereby getting access to the shell's bursting-charge. You could say that the oversize gasket is a "head gasket," to seal the bottom of the main fuze-hole from intrusion by firing-blast flame."

This conversation I had with Pete George was initiated by my discovery of a 12-pound Bormann-fuzed projectile in west Hinds County, Mississippi.

After its discovery, I had a machinists in Virginia cut the projectile in half.

One-half of that sectioned projectile is pictured below. The area of rebate is circled in yellow:

View attachment 582367

One can see how the wider, thicker gasket could be thought to solve such a problem by the placement a rebate area under the fuse for a gasket. Unfortunately, the experiment never solved the problem of premature detonation.

As an interesting side note, my sectioned projectile proved to be a unique mystery to Pete George.

Here is Mr. George, in his own words, back in 2012:

"More than 30 years ago, when I was doing my studies about distinguishing CS-made Bormann fuzes from US-made ones, I noticed the big "gasket rebate" (groove) at the bottom of CS-made Bormann shells, and began to distribute my theory that its presence was a way to tell CS-made Bormann shells from US-made ones. Full confirmation came via the flood of cut-in-half Augusta GA cache CS Bormanns. Every one of those that I've ever seen has the gasket-rebate. So, the "guideline" I formulated is, the gasket rebate means CS-made, and no gasket rebate means it's either yankee-made or 1861 CS-made (before the gasket-as-premature-detonation-remedy was adopted)."

But, as mentioned above, my sectioned 12-pounder proved an anomaly—about which Mr. George expanded upon further:

"That 'guideline' has held true through all the following years, for every sawed-in-half Bormann shell with an identifiably CS-made or US-made fuze in it. [Alan's] sawed Bormann is the first I've seen which doesn't match up with the guideline. So, I have to think the simplest answer is that his shell is a CS-made Bormann with a captured US-made Bormann fuze in it. EDIT: Or, a captured CS-made shell fired by the yankees with a US-made fuze in it. (There is documented proof that the yanks used captured CS ordnance during the Vicksburg Campaign.)"

Anyhow, a few months later, my brother recovered another 12-pound Bormann projectile in the same location as mine. He also sent it off the be cut in half:

View attachment 582368

This specimen also contains the rebated area, and fits precisely with Pete George's initial designation as the typical Confederate-made Bormann with a gasket-rebate.

Again, this supposed solution never worked. Consequently, the Confederate government ceased production of Bormann fuzes in late 1862. However, these projectiles continued to be used throughout 1863.

Really interesting images. Do you mind sharing? I really would like to add them to my portfolio.

 

[Belfoured]

Excellent stuff. To be clear, I was referring to the Federal Bormanns, which were better-manufactured. As indicated, an investigation of premature detonations at Fredericksburg concluded that the problem was poor practices at the arsenal (Watervliet, IIRC) when affixing the fuze to the projectile.

I also recall Porter Alexander weighing in at one point on the manufacture of Confederate Bormanns. He referred to a specific "mechanical" issue which may have been different from the George analysis, but I don't recall the details.

I meant to add that IIRC the Federal investigation resulted in a directive in 1863 that units inspect the ordnance when it was received and make sure that the fuze was properly screwed in.

 

[alan polk]

Really interesting images. Do you mind sharing? I really would like to add them to my portfolio.

I don't mind at all.

 

[Belfoured]

The 1857 Light 12 pdr has a fuse that goes as short a 1 second.

I think that the Federal Bormanns actually had a tick mark before the 1 second mark for .75 seconds. Stand clear ...

 

[Dan Kohli]

I think that the Federal Bormanns actually had a tick mark before the 1 second mark for .75 seconds. Stand clear ...

Definitely.

 

[Rhea Cole]

For those unfamiliar with Bormann fuzes.

Link

www.civilwarartillery.com/fuzes/bormannfuze.htm

 

[Reconstructed Rebel]

For those unfamiliar with Bormann fuzes.

Link

www.civilwarartillery.com/fuzes/bormannfuze.htm

Thank you. I was getting a little lost….