Ceohorn type motar---

5fish

Captain
Joined
Aug 26, 2007
Location
Central Florida
The Ceohorn Type motars were used in the civil war but my question is how effective were they?

The 12 pound Ceohorn motar could be carried by two men into battle most likely use four men in all to carry the ammo for it. Would the 12 pound Ceohorn motar have been good for close infantry supoort weapon or was that a concept before its time in the civil war.

Motars was used effectively as a weapon in the 20th centruy...why noy during the civil war?





Expired Image Removed

Had to clean up this thread grammar...
 
Effect was limited by the movement by the mortar between shots, time to load it, amount of ammo to be carried, and the poor fuses of the day killing or angering your own troops. Small mortars effect is realized by the ability to quickly walk them into an enemy position , and to quickly judge the beginning range. Next is the size of your effective explosion to maim or kill the enemy. Black powder does not give you much of these things you need to be effective nor does muzzleloading. Last but not least you have to be able to see your enemy, or at least his stronghold, and you must know what your troops are doing at the front of the line, lack of effective radios and telephones made this tough along with dust and smoke. Effective range of rifle musket fire is fairly short, so your troops are fairly close to the enemy, a slight misjudgement of your powder charge and the shells are landing in or over your troops.
 
Actually mortars were valued in the Civil War. So much so that when actual pieces were not available the troops created them by using hollowed out tree stumps banded with whatever material was available to prevent them from bursting. Such improvised mortars were used at Vicksburg and Petersburg during siege when direct fire weapons did not have the desired effect.

BTW the word is grammar
 
There's a certain art to using them, powder charge dictated the range, it was poured into a recessed chamber and the ball dropped in on top. A level was required for accurate shooting and a sighting string and "bob" were used for windage. Bronze Cohorn mortars were Federal and iron Confederate, (up to at least 24 pounders). I've been on a live fire Cohorn mortar crew, (Federal 24 pounder made by Paulson Bros.) and I can tell you, 4 men to carry the gun, (and not far at that) a basket, (as per original) for balls, and a chest for fuses, primers, tongs, and other implements. To serve a 24lb. Cohorn on the battlefield took a crew of at least 8 men, (Infantry, not Artillery). Accuracy is very good, (if the crew can take it's time to level the gun and aim it). Relibillity of the shell was also as good, if not better than any smoothbore cannon. A mortar ball differs from an artillery ball in several respects, it has holes for the tongs in it, and the fuse rests against the propellent charge rather than away from it. I'm sure there are videos on youtube of NSSA crews live firing Cohorns for score.
 
Here's a live fire demonstration at Gettysburg, the Sgt. on the mic. is Don Schmidt of Independant Battery E, (Knaps) Pa. Light Artillery. As stated in the previous post, Cohorns were Infantry weapons, not Artillery. Enjoy.
 
It seems Mortars big use being either small or large in the Civil war was for either as siege weapons or in trench warfare....


Here is a link to a short tale on Coehorn Mortars and states the 12 pound mortars were used mainly by union troops....

http://civilwarwiki.net/wiki/Civil_War_Era_Mortars



Link to a picture mortar shell of a Coehorn Mortar....


http://www.campsiteartifacts.com/images/194_WoodFuseIcon.jpg

Excellent Wood Fuse Plug 12-Pounder Artillery Shell
Here is a very nice condition, wood fuse-plug 12-pounder shell
originally intended for a US Coehorn Mortar ! The iron shows
only very moderate pitting, with no large pieces or divits missing.
Ball was lightly cleaned and coated years ago, and has a a real
sharp excavated look. Likely, many of these lay in Federal arsenals
in the south, before the war, and when needed they could also be
used in the 12-pound Napoleon. This one was recovered years
ago, near Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Every artillery collection
needs at least one wood fuse plug shell !

Here's a link about the Coehorn 24 pound was good for trench warfare...

http://books.google.com/books?id=Sd...e&q=12 pound coehorn mortar civil war&f=false

Here's another link....

http://books.google.com/books?id=tw...&resnum=2&ved=0CC8Q6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q&f=false


Got to love it when the color setting does not work..
 
Back
Top