Notes on Civil War Logistics: Facts & Stories
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Artillery used four types of ammunition: (1) shot, (2) spherical case, (3) shell, and (4)
canister. “Solid shot is spherical, and its weight in pounds is used to designate the caliber of the
gun to which it belongs.”25 (e.g., 12-pounder Napoleon) “Solid shot should be used from 350
yards upwards.”26
“The shrapnel or case shot is a cast-iron shot forming a case which is filled with musket
balls…Spherical case ought not, as a general rule, to be used for a range less than 500 yards; and
neither spherical case nor shells should be fired rapidly at rapidly advancing bodies, as, for
instance, cavalry charging.”27
“The shell is a hollow shot, which such thickness of metal as enables it to penetrate
earthworks, wooden buildings, &c., without breaking. For service it is charged with powder and
bursts with great force. “The fire of spherical case and of shells on bodies of cavalry in line or
column and in position is often very effective.”28 “The best rule for approximate time of flight is
one second for 300 yards.”29
“The canister consists of a tin cylinder, attached to a sabot and filled with cast iron shot.
Twelve-pound canister was filled with 27 shot. The use of canister should begin at 350 yards,
and the rapidity of the fire increase as the range diminishes.”30
Each gun had one ammunition chest on the limber that pulled the gun, another
ammunition chest on the limber that pulled the caisson and two additional ammunition chests on
the caisson itself. Therefore, the number of rounds organic to the battery was computed by
multiplying the number of rounds in each ammunition chest by four.
Each 12-pounder gun and caisson had a total of 128 rounds organic to the battery. Normally,
250 rounds were carried on campaign.32
The formula for the number of wagons required to carry 12-pounder ammunition was
(No. of guns x 122)/112. Each 12-pounder transported 128 rounds within the battery and needed
a total of 250 rounds in the field. The difference is the 122 rounds that appear in the formula.
When the formula is applied to a single gun, a little over one wagon is required to carry 112
rounds.
23 French, CPT William H. Barry, CPT. William F. Hunt, CPT H. J. (1864). Field Artillery Tactics. NY NY. D.
Van Nostrand. p.24.
24 Rusling, Captain J. F. (1865). A Word for the Quartermaster‟s Department appearing in the United States Service
Magazine, Volume III. NY NY. Charles R. Richardson. p. 255-256
25 French, CPT William H. Barry, CPT. William F. Hunt, CPT H. J. (1864). Field Artillery Tactics. NY NY. D.
Van Nostrand. p.8.
26 French, CPT William H. Barry, CPT. William F. Hunt, CPT H. J. (1864). Field Artillery Tactics. NY NY. D.
Van Nostrand. p.29.
27 French, CPT William H. Barry, CPT. William F. Hunt, CPT H. J. (1864). Field Artillery Tactics. NY NY. D.
Van Nostrand. pp. 8 & 29.
28 French, CPT William H. Barry, CPT. William F. Hunt, CPT H. J. (1864). Field Artillery Tactics. NY NY. D.
Van Nostrand. pp. 8 & 29.
29 French, CPT William H. Barry, CPT. William F. Hunt, CPT H. J. (1864). Field Artillery Tactics. NY NY. D.
Van Nostrand. p. 28.
30 French, CPT William H. Barry, CPT. William F. Hunt, CPT H. J. (1864). Field Artillery Tactics. NY NY. D.
Van Nostrand. pp. 8 & 29.
31 Laidley, Brevet Major T. T. S. (1861). The Ordnance Manual For the Use of Officers of the United States Army
(Third Edition). NYNY. J.J. Lippincott & Co. & republished by Invictus, Decatur MI. p. 335)