A Severe and Damaging Fire

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I decided to run a marathon seven years ago. I bought a book that suggested that I tell everyone up front that I was doing it.  That way, there could be no turning back.  Too many people would know.  That is somewhat against my nature but I did it in 2006 and I’m going to do it now for an entirely different effort.

In this blog lately you have seen a lot about West Pointers at Antietam and the regular artillery batteries.  It is something that I have grown increasingly interested in of late.  I have decided to take the plunge and write a book about the U.S. Army regular artillery in the Army of the Potomac focusing on their role in the Battle of Antietam.

I made a bibliographical survey of books on artillery.  There are many memoirs written about Confederate gunners.  There are also some written about the Federal volunteer batteries.  But I have found nothing specifically addressing the regular artillery. 

This project hopes to remedy that deficiency.  My plan is to trace the assembly of the regular batteries that would become part of the Army of the Potomac from the distant posts that they manned in January of 1861 to Washington.  It will be heavy on biography of the gunners.  At long last, the lives and careers of guys like Alanson Randol, William van Reed, Samuel Benjamin, “Dad” Woodruff, and Dunbar Ransom will be revealed.

I will address in detail the work of William Barry and Henry Hunt in the development of the federal artillery in the first 18 months of the war.   Recognizing and detailing the monumental work that Hunt performed in the two weeks before the Battle of Antietam making the artillery ready for battle is a major objective of this work.  This credit is long overdue.

I hope in some ways to do the same kind of work that Tim Reese did for the regular infantry in Syke’s Regulars or Larry Freihieit did for the cavalry in Boots and Saddles.   It is time to tell the story of the gunners.

Ransom's Battery Canister Range, Maximum Range and Landmarks

And finally to the Battle of Antietam.  As someone who walks the fields continuously as a park volunteer and guide, I really appreciate the significance of the military aspects of terrain and the importance of considering it when addressing the emplacement and use of artillery.  As a historical interpreter with Antietam's all volunteer Battery B, 4th U.S. Artillery, I have an idea of the technical aspects of a Civil War artillery unit.  As a retired Army officer, I bring a certain perception and approach to this work that I think will prove beneficial.  The photo of the map showing Ransom’s guns (Battery C of the Fifth Artillery) perhaps gives you an idea of some of the direction I am taking. There were 22 regular batteries on the battlefield (including Couch’s division). I will leave it to your imagination on how I proceed. I hope all this will make for an interesting and compelling work. 

Stonewall Jackson’s writes in his official report on the Maryland Campaign “At the first dawn of day skirmishing commenced in front, and in a short time the Federal batteries, so posted on the opposite side of the Antietam as to enfilade my line, opened a severe and damaging fire.” Coming from an artillerist of Stonewall’s credentials who also happens to be on the opposing side, that is high praise.  Hence the name for the project: A Severe and Damaging Fire – The Regular Artillery in the Battle of Antietam.

You will get some glimpses of my progress here at SFTNW over the months to come. Stay tuned.

Seven years ago, I told “everyone” and I successfully ran the marathon.  I wasn’t fast but I didn’t stop and I didn’t walk.  I had fun.  Once more against my nature, I am telling “everyone” about A Severe and Damaging Fire.  I hope that I will have the same success and satisfaction that I had in running the marathon, as I will have with this project.  And I am having fun.  See you on the field.