"Long Range Artillery at Antietam" Topic

Did those 20lb Parrotts, could they hit the Sunken Road? Could they get a line of site on it?

I have reconstructed this battlefield to a scale of one millimetre equals one metre with reference to the topography.

The Union long range artillery was posted on the heights above the Antietam creek with good views towards the field.

However, Lee was making good use of the dead ground behind the Sharpsburg ridge to shield his forces as much as possible.

The sunken lane is on a reverse slope as you climb up from the Roulette farm .

I am of the opinion that it would be difficult to locate from the heights and indeed the attacking Union forces did not know of it until they crested the rise.

Best wishes,

Chris

I can confirm Professor Dodson's conclusions. My friend Kermit and I walked the entire line of advance from Roulette's Farm up the slope to the Sunken Road position. The Sunken Road was indeed behind and below the crest on the reverse slope. We estimated (by pacing off the distance) that the distance between the Sunken Road and the crest line was only about 30 yds.

B

Is the question did the have the range or visibility?

They certainly had the range as in the morning the 20 pounders had the range and fired on confederates in and around the Miller Cornfield.

Kim

Wasn't it also those 20# Parrotts that did indirect fire at one point? Observers with LOS signaled back to them with flags, IIRC.

I am tempted to leave them out of this scenario. Just not worth the trouble but more so because if they can't hit the sunken road then I don't see them having any use in this paticular scenario. I have had them in past in other parts of Antietam, I have them firing at long or extreme range and they can only hit on an 8 or 9 on a 10D. If a 10 is rolled then roll again and if the result is a 1 the gum blows up.

Was just at Antietam in August on a recce, and again in September on a staff ride. During the recce, I remarked to one of the rangers we met near the cornfield about the abundance of trees that old photos clearly show were not there "on the day." She allowed as how, as at Gettysburg, restoring the battlefield to its appearance in 1862 is on the agenda and being done slowly. I assume all who are addressing this very interesting question are taking account of the trees -- not just the inter-visibility lines.

I was briefly discussing the role of the 20-ponder Parrotts on the staff ride -- without specific refence to the Sunken Road. I have noted the December 1862 report of General Henry Hunt, wherein he noted; "At Antietam two of the twenty-two… were disabled by the bursting of the gun near the muzzle. The gun is too heavy for field purposes, and can be used with advantage only as batteries of position. For the last purpose it is inferior to the 4½-inch siege-gun, which requires the same number of horses and only half the number of drivers." In his report, Hunt lobbied to have them removed from the artillery park of the Army of the Potomac; that "the 20-pounders be turned in to the Ordnance Department as soon as they can be replaced by light field guns."

Very interesting discussion above, folks. Thanks!

I am not sure where the term ‘ professor ‘ has come from but thank you Mr Blutarski.

With respect to trees I would suggest you visit the excellent maps available at the LOC .

The principle wooded areas are shown including the Orndorff bridge area.

A visit to the Newcomer farm via Rhorbach Farmsteads of Antietam gives a great view of the heights from the Boonsborough Pike near to the sunken lane junction.

Best wishes,

Chris

Long guns, such as the 20lb Parrots, could not hit a depression or a position in defilade behind the crest of a ridge or hill. Howitzers would be needed for that type of artillery mission.

And it should also be noted that the Union artillery arm dominated the battlefield.