Carrying Hand Grenades

[Western Reserve Volunteer]

I'll count this as artillery, since hand grenades are a type of shell in my mind. Anyhow, I'm wondering if anyone has period accounts of how one would go about carrying hand grenades into battle? Previous threads have made mention some models came in cardboard boxes from the factory, and they were in one case stored in the magazine of an entrenchment, but I wonder how they might have been carried in the assault at places like Vicksburg?

I'd be tempted to say an artillery leather haversack would make the most sense as a carrier since its roughly designed for a similar role but it seems the infantry were the main users and I wouldn't think they would have had that on hand to use. Perhaps simply put them in a old regular haversack as an extemporization? Or would you be lucky enough to only ever get one per assault and so as long as you had a free hand you were good to go (better sling your rifle & not trip!).

Does anybody know what happened to all the hand grenades the Army made up once the war was over? I understand they weren't often used, and quite a few of the Ketchum type were made. I can't imagine they were all used up, so what happened to them? Did they see any use out West?

 

[Story]

No primary source material to back this up, but I'd submit that grenades (when used) where defensive in nature since they were heavy and best deployed with the advantage of gravity, winging them down on attacking troops.

PS - check the concurring answers in this thread https://civilwartalk.com/threads/grenadiers.169678/

 

[major bill]

No primary source material to back this up, but I'd submit that grenades (when used) where defensive in nature since they were heavy and best deployed with the advantage of gravity, winging them down on attacking troops.

I would agree.

 

[7thWisconsin]

Grenades weren't carried as a common infantry weapon like they are today. Instead they were issued to selected men right before use. Think the "grenadier" concept of the 17th and 18th century reborn, or the designated grenadier concept that will evolve in the Great War. Like many innovative weapons, there was no manual for their use, but instructions were included in the orders for the action. Here's the applicable bit from the June 14, 1863 assault on Port Hudson. Skirmishers from the 8th NH and 4th MA were followed by 5 companies from the 4th MA and 110th NY which were hand grenade equipped. The attack order read: "The hand grenade men carry their pieces on their backs and carry each one grenade. They will march three paces to the rear of their line of skirmishers. Having thrown their grenades they will go on as skirmishers. The skirmishers will clamber upon the parapet followed by the carriers of hand grenades, which will be thrown over into the works as soon as the skirmishers are on the outer slopes of the parapet." (Lord's Encyclopedia, Vol. 1, p 117) This tells us a good bit about usage. First of all, there didn't seem to be a term like "grenadier" in use or the clumsy "carriers of hand grenades" wouldn't have been the term of use. Second, each grenade carrier was only issued 1 grenade. Given that the command to sling the rifle on the back is pretty precise, I think the grenade was carried right in the hand, not in a bag or carrier at all. I think the commanders intent was that the skirmishers would take up a hasty defense on the outer slope of the parapet, then the grenade carriers would come up even with them, toss their grenade and then continue the action as skirmishers. The order doesn't stipulate which type of grenade was issued. I really like Civil War grenades, and have tried to think of a good way to simulate them reenacting for years. Haven't come up with any really practical ideas besides painting one of those Nerf footballs with the tail fins, and I know that the Civil War flavor of the hobby just isn't in a place for that at the moment.