Читать книгу American Civil War For Dummies - Keith D. Dickson - Страница 109

The artillery provided the long-reaching firepower on the battlefield. The army’s cannons (see Figure 4-3) were organized into batteries of four to six guns each. Posted behind the infantry on high spots on the battlefield, or on the flanks of the line, the artillery supported infantry attacks with fire, or fired on attacking infantry in the defense with cannons. Artillery was often massed when possible to concentrate the devastating effects of the weapons on unprotected infantry formations of the enemy. When placed behind earthworks or breastworks, and sufficiently supported by infantry, artillery made such positions impervious to attack.

Forbes / The Library of Congress / Public Domain

FIGURE 4-3: The 12pd Napoleon — the standard artillery piece of both armies.