Interesting Quote

[Busterbuttonboy]

Read this quote earlier this morning and thought it interesting enough to warrant a post- and cool enough to get a good thread going.

Simon Griffins brigade takes part in the early morning assault on the Confederate lines (Petersburg) specifically Ft. Mahone on April 2nd. While over running Battery No. 28 A New Hampshire officer yells at one of his men, "Bill Key, give me a match, or your cigar or pipe or something, so I can touch this darned thing off." Obviously referring to the reversal of some of the southern pieces towards the main confederate line. Pg. 361 The Last Citadel.

I find it interesting because, the process of firing a gun with a match, cigar or embers from a pipe might require one to "ride" the gun depending on its recoil. In other words lanyards keep us the correct distance away so that the natural recoil does take us with the piece. I know this isn't an isolated case of guns being turned, but I'd like to see others using primary or secondary sources of alternative or impromptu "priming" methods and how they were handled- specifically any instances of folks on the gun as it discharged.

Thanks in advance.
Drew Gruber

[3rdUSRedleg]

Re: Interesting Quote

Posted below is a portion of a very long report in refrence of this units
action as a summary within this Artillery Brigade to show a bigger but brief
picture of the entire action that had taken place:

Report of Bvt. Lieutenant Colonel John G. Hazard, First Rhode
Island Light Artillery, commanding Artillery Brigade.

HDQRS. ARTILLERY BRIGADE, SECOND ARMY CORPS,
April 19, 1865.

April 2, at 4 a. m. the Tenth Massachusetts Battery, Captain Adams, took
position on the Boydton plank road, on the right of Captain Dakin's battery,
and at 7 a. m. engaged the enemy. About daylight the enemy opened upon Battery
M, First New Hampshire Artillery; his fire was replied to by that battery and
the Tenth Massachusetts Battery until 9 a.m., when it was observed that the
enemy was evacuating the works. A reconnaissance was sent out under General
McAllister, the batteries covering the movement. Captain roder's battery opened
on a small work that the infantry were about to charge; he succeeded in driving
the artillery out, when our troops took possession. At this time it was found
that the enemy was evacuating his entire line from Hatcher's Run to the Boydton
road. Mott's division was ordered to advance, and Battery K, Fourth U. S.
Artillery, and Eleventh New York Battery were assigned to move with it, which
they did, occupying the enemy's works, and afterward moving by way of plank
road toward Petersburg. Captain Clark's battery and M, First New Hampshire
Artillery, were ordered to follow down the enemy's line to White Oak road, and
repot to General Miles, who was assisting Major-General Sheridan's command.
Battery B, First Rhode Island Artillery, was brought up to the plank road and
ordered, together with Tenth Massachusetts Battery, to follow, and report to
General Hays, Second Division; Battery B, First New Jersey Artillery, and M,
First New Hampshire Artillery, by order of General Miles, occupied a position
near the road, and shelled a piece of woods that was supposed to cover the
enemy's cavalry. The batteries continued firing until the enemy was forced to
leave his works and retreat. During this time Captain Roder's battery and
Eleventh New York Battery had marched within two miles of Petersburg, where
Captain Roder's battery was put in position and opened fire on the enemy, who
was attempting to establish an entrenched skirmish line. the distance being so
great, little could be accomplished, and when the division formed line of
battle, the battery was withdrawn and put in position on a high knoll to the
right, where it remained all night.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JNO. G. HAZARD,
Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel, U. S. Volunteers, Commanding.
Major J. N. CRAIG,
Asst. Adjt. General , Artillery Hdqrs., Army of the Potomac.

[Danny]

Re: Interesting Quote

... I'd like to see others using primary or secondary sources of alternative or impromptu "priming" methods and how they were handled- specifically any instances of folks on the gun as it discharged. Thanks in advance.Drew Gruber

Drew,

As you probably know, to remind; there was a place on a standard carriage for a linstock, the standard alternate if primers were not available. A linstock handle is maybe up to a yard long, no more, and the lit end of the rope (i.e. the "slow match") doesn't extend that much further, just long enough to avoid the wheel on kick-back.

In a controlled fire situation, in our unit we verified setting off the gun by firing a pistol over the vent. In that controlled situation the danger of a strong kick-back was minimal because there was no round in the barrel. But even in real situation it likely occurred as an emergency or in a gun take-back situation, and if cannister was loaded rather than the higher-kickback solid shot or shell.

Dan Wykes

[Busterbuttonboy]

Re: Interesting Quote

Carol Dubb's "Defend This Old Town" Pg 115.

Robert Stiles, an artillerist with the Richmond Howitzers, described "the most inspiring illustration of the noblest traits developed by" war. While working his gun in Fort Magruder during the heat of battle, Stiles saw a member of the Fayette Artillery at the next gun take a bullet first in his calf and another through his skull without removing his thumb from the vest, nobly saving his fellow-cannoneer "from the loss of his hands by premature explosion as he rammed home the next charge."
-Dubbs footnote for the quote, -Sorrell, Recollections, 41; Stiles, Four Years under Marse Robert, 80-1.