The batteries were generally composed of but four guns, which is not an economical arrangement but as no objection was made to it, either at army headquarters or at the War Department, and as the scarcity both of horses and ordnance equipment made it difficult to get, and more so to maintain a six-gun battery, it resulted in that few six-gun batteries were put in the field, and nearly every one of these was eventually reduced to four guns.ĭuring the first year of the war each brigade of infantry had a battery attached, which was under the orders of the brigadecom-mander while the remaining batteries with the army were organized into one or more regiments, or battalions, under the command of the Chief of Artillery on the staff of the Commanding General. The deficiencies of equipment, the result of causes many of which were beyond control, continued with but partial mitigation to the end of the war. The faults of its organization were recognized, and gradually overcome, within eighteen months. The drawbacks upon its efficiency at the beginning of the war were very serious, and came both from its organization and from its equipment. Alexander, late Chief of Artillery of Longstreet's Corps.Īs the Confederate artillery labored throughout the war under disadvantages which have scarcely been known outside of its own ranks, and which can hardly be fully appreciated except by those who have served with that arm, I have thought it better to give in this form a connected account of the difficulties encountered, and the gradual improvements made in this branch of the service. Louisville Southern Historical AssociationĬonfederate Artillery service.

522 calibre brooke way