Chain-Shot

[eBrowne]

In this National Tribune article, it states that Lt.Col. Daum had his guns fire chain-shot at the First Battle of Kernstown, 1862. Any comments? Did it really happen? Most references that I see, said it was very dangerous and not used by the army. Why would the canooneers even have that in their arsenal?

https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn82016187/1889-05-16/ed-1/?sp=3&q=+col.+Daum&r=0.133,0.37,0.293,0.128,0

 

[eBrowne]

In this 1861 article, it does mention the different projectiles, and it does list chain-shot.

https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn83026172/1861-04-24/ed-1/?sp=2&q=chain+shot&r=-0.174,-0.083,1.017,0.446,0

 

[Dan Kohli]

Where did they find chain shot for field artillery in the first place? Sounds like they were planning on firing upon ships.

 

[eBrowne]

I'm wondering, if early in the War, that they were firing projectiles from the 1840'3 and 50's. There must have been antiquated munitions in the arsenals, and due to the explosive growth of the army, this material was used.

 

[redbob]

The only time that I have read a reference to chain shot in the Civil War was a reference to chain shot being used in the double barreled cannon that the Confederates built. When fired with chain shot going from one barrel to the other, it was a tremendous failure to say the least . BTW, this rather strange gun can still be seen in Athens, Georgia.

 

[eBrowne]

Here is that double barrel cannon.

Double-Barreled Cannon | Athens-Clarke County, GA - Official Website

History of the Athens Double Barreled Cannon, History from the Civil War

www.accgov.com

 

[eBrowne]

An article in the National Tribune states this about chain shot and says that it wasn't used in the Civil War.

https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn82016187/1887-11-24/ed-1/?sp=5&q=%22national+tribune%22+%22chain+shot%22&r=0.103,0.559,0.285,0.125,0

 

[eBrowne]

Here is a claim that chain shot was used at Front Royal.

https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn82016187/1884-03-27/ed-1/?sp=2&q=%22national+tribune%22+%22chain+shot%22&r=0.764,1.024,0.283,0.124,0

 

[Old Soldier]

The Athens double barrel cannon - the only one ever built - and a complete failure.

As to the use of chain shot, if you have nothing else, you will use whatever is available.