Wire question

[pops]

While doing a search of Sibleys New Mexico campaign, I pulled out my copy of Battles and Leaders vol. #2 the jacket cover shows confederates assaulting a fort.In the (painting) is shown to be wire strung around tree stumps,or tangle foot if you prefer.Now Ive never payed much attention to the cover as it didnt appear all that great.My question though is--- was wire used as a tangle foot around fortifcations?

[Greg Renault]

Re: Wire question

Yes. It is one of the class of obstacles, and is called an entanglement. Other obstacles include abatis and chevaux-de-frise. See the following links:

http://www.civilwarfortifications.com/dictionary/xgo-004.html

http://www.civilwarfortifications.com/dictionary/xge-005.html

[1stMaine]

Re: Wire question

Comrade,

I would venture the opinion that the wire itself is most likely telegraph wire enlisted for the purpose of making the obstacles. It was readily available, especially with the federal forces, and flexible enough to be used as tanglefoot. Additionally, the protective coating/insulation would help to preserve the wire itself from the effects of exposure to the elements.

Respects,

[hireddutchcutthroat]

Re: Wire question

It was used to telling effect by Burnsides men agaist Longstreet at Knoxville.

http://www.ehistory.com/world/BattleView.Cfm?BID=675

[echamp6165]

Re: Wire question

Three Brigades under Longstreet met these telegraph wire entanglements outside of Fort Sanders, Knoxville. They were butchered.

[Greg Renault]

Re: Wire question

Here are some quotes from D.H. Mahan's A Treatise on Field Fortification (NY, 1836; my copy is the 3rd edition of 1856, inscribed 1861):

105. The principal artificial obstacles are trous-de-loup, or military pits; abattis; palisades; fraises; stoccades; chevaux-de-frise; small pickets; entaglements; crows-feet; inundations; and mines. (p. 44)

121. Small pickets. This obstacle (Fig. 26) consists of straight branches of tough wood cut into lengths of two-and-a-half, or three feet. They are driven into the ground, in a quincunx order, about twelve inches apart, and project irregularly above it, not more than eighteen inches. Interlaced with cords, grape-vines, brambles, prickly shrubs, &c, they form an excellent entanglement. (p.48)

Mahan's Figure 26 shows a number of artificial obstacles, including small pickets in the ditch of a field fortification, but it does not illustrate an entanglement. Paddy Griffith's Battle in the Civil War illustrates a wire entanglement on p. 34.