"Flying Artillery" Topic

Great painting by Don Troiani depicting the federal horse artillery coming into action at McPhersons Ridge. Note the lack of seated "limber riders" so beloved of Hollywood and model soldier makers ;)

Those are horse artillerymen, who each rode a horse.

See regular foot batteries to find limber riders.

I am not familure with this image, what batteries is it representing?

VR
James Mattes

So, here is my question: When doing horse artillery in any scale, why not just leave the limber riders off and use some cavalry figures for the extra gunners mounted on horse?

Being that it is July, wouldn't the brass limber box top be a bit hot to sit on?

I think it is meant to represent Battery A, 2nd US Artillery (Calef's Battery, 1st Cavalry Division)

It could have been Hall's Battery, but as I recall Hall's men were foot artillery from Maine

It was standard practice for a white canvas tarp to be placed on top of the copper lid of the ammunition chest. This tarp was held in place with two straps and would give something of a cushion to any riders.

Every arty reenactor ought to ride a limber – once. I've done it twice. Enough for me. Neither safe nor comfortable. And the tarp does not do much to enhance either.

A loaded limber towing a gun or a loaded caisson, along with three drivers, approached the weight limit of a six-horse team. So foot artillerymen walked to spare the animals (and themselves as cwbuff alludes). Even more so in the Confederacy where horse shortage often resulted in teams of only four. Horse artillerymen rode saddle horses.

The copper lid on the limber was to arrest sparks that might set off the ammunition. I suspect the tarp was more about keeping the powder dry than cushioning cannoneers' butts.

Artillery and cavalry had different equipment, although cavalry figs probably can be converted to horse artillery.

What's on the saddles of the riderless horses?

It's called a valise. Same function as saddle bags – i.e., carrying driver's personal effects, small horse-care equipment, etc.

Just to confirm, its Calef's Battery coming to the support of Buford's cavalry and about to deploy either side of the Chambersberg Pike, near the McPherson Barn, shown in the background.

Buford is pictured in the center, with his bugler, as he is giving directions to Lt.Calef.

The limber riders are wearing the red trimmed jackets of the Light Artillery. Like all Union Horse artillery at Gettysburg the battery is equipped with 3 inch rifles, as seen passing in front of the barn.

I rode a limber chest once, on perfectly flat ground for a parade at Gettysburg back in 88. Dangerous at a walk, lethal at the trot and impossible at any faster gait. And that's on flat, level ground.

Parade and combat are two different things; in combat how many rounds of ammunition do you think they left behind so two idle cannoneers could risk life and limb hitching a ride?

Cavalry figures make suitable mounted cannoneers if you can find some without the carbine sling. The artillery saber was a lot more curved than the cavalry model – more like a Hussar saber, and would have been left with the battery wagon

Buglers, guidon bearers etc probably retained theirs. NCO's and drivers carried revolvers – close combat was rare, but sadly these were often need to put down wounded and maimed horses.

thank you chudwah,
I always wondered about that.

number4,

I'm curious about the saber you describe/picture above. I know foot artillery were issued straight short swords similar to a Roman gladius. If these weren't discarded as useless in the field, they probably saw more action chopping brush, etc than dispatching enemies. But I take it cutlery was different in the horse artillery? Makes sense as a saber might be useful to a mounted cannoneer, at least while he was mounted.

Not just while mounted; the artillery not having rifles and bayonets, the saber was carried by sentries on guard duty at the horse lines and artillery park.

An interesting source is "My Dear Parents" – the letters of an Englishman who enlisted in a Union artillery battery and fought it the ACW. He describes being issued with and carrying a saber and revolver while serving as a messenger with the battery. link

The tarp is called a "paulin" and is of white canvas with a number of hand-sewn grommets around the edge. It was used to cover the gun when in bivouac, though many artillerymen seem to have used it over the limber pole as shelter.

The paulin, as stated, was of white canvas. It was about 10" X 10" square. Paulins which were painted with a black linseed oil mixture to weather-proof them were called "tarpaulins" the term "tarp" is simply a contraction of that word.

Well, I'll be dammed!