Confederate Artillery.
In the collection of captured Confederate artillery on the wharves of
Richmond awaiting shipment North in April, 1865, might be found practically every type of gun made and used by the civilized nations of the world, besides some patterns entirely obsolete.
The first sources of Confederate artillery were the captured navyyards and arsenals.
Purchasing agents were sent to
Europe and some guns were imported from abroad.
This was eventually checked by the
Federal blockade.
One of the principal places of manufacture was the Tredegar Iron Works in
Richmond.
Large quantities of ordnance were also obtained from all battlegrounds of the war where the
Confederates held the field for a time following the battle.
Due to these various sources of supplies the ordnance material was varied and incongruous.
The wagon in the foreground is a tool-wagon, but observe the light wheels.
Just over the top of this wagon is visible a caisson, complete, with the fifth, or spare wheel, on the back.
In the chests of the caisson are stored projectiles and powder which cannot be carried in the limber of the gun. Below several brass mountain-howitzers appear.
Mountain artillery must be light enough to be carried on the backs of pack animals if necessary.
The howitzer used for this purpose was a short, light 12-pounder, weighing 220 pounds. When a carriage was used, it was mounted on a low, two-wheeled one.
The projectiles were shell and caseshot, and the charge was half a pound of powder.
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Confederate guns-practically every type used in the civilized world in 1865 |
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Confederate brass howitzers |
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